Boko Haram: Group trains young people to identify and resist extremist propaganda

By: Michael Mike

As active members of the Truth Alliance,, Hope and Awareness Foundation and XPeace Associates have announced their continued efforts in countering violent extremism, with training focused on encouraging young people to identify and resist terrorist propaganda.

Spokesperson of The Truth Alliance, Mr. Ahmed Mustapha, in a statement on Tuesday, said these organizations have implemented various initiatives to expose the deceptive tactics of violent extremist groups and empower communities to resist these threats.

Since joining the Truth Alliance in 2023, the Hope and Awareness Foundation stated that they have significantly bolstered their expertise in combating extremism through strategic communication, grassroots community engagement, and impactful initiatives.

“The foundation has participated in vital training workshops organized by Al Hedayah and Neem Institute, which equipped their staff with essential skills to support families affected by extremism and violence,” the statement reads.

The statement further mentioned that the Hope and Awareness Foundation has conducted step-down training sessions from the truth alliance to disseminate lessons learned from their experiences on exposing the tactics used by violent extremist organizations, enabling young people to identify and resist extremist propaganda. 

“We believe in the power of collaboration, strategic communication, and grassroots engagement to create a safer, more peaceful society, and the foundation has leveraged social media to launch campaigns aimed at promoting peace and resilience within at-risk communities.” stated Mamman Nur Abubakar, Program Manager and focal person to Truth Alliance for Hope and Awareness Foundation.

“Our comprehensive efforts are dedicated to unveiling the deceptive tactics of violent extremist organizations and empowering communities to counter these threats,” he stated.

XPeace Associates, an innovation center and youth-led organization dedicated to transforming peace and security efforts through innovative solutions and community engagement also a dedicated member of the Truth Alliance, has called on young people to embrace peace and increase their active participation in the peace process.
On their part, the group recognized the critical role that youth play in driving change.

“XPeace associates leverages on creativity, energy, and local insights to address complex security challenges through innovative solutions and community engagement and as such we draw the attention of young People to be mindful of the messages they consume on the internet,” statement noted.

According to their statement, the organization became a member of the Alliance as it is part of their vision to bridge the gap between donors, implementing organizations, and target communities, fostering the ownership of peace and security efforts by those most affected.
 “Terrorist organizations use financial gains that are not even sustainable to lure young people, especially the unemployed, into their ranks, which is a disaster for them and society,”. Fatima Mafi emphasized, project manager from XPeace Associates.

“We urge youth to be vigilant, wary of false promises, and resist the manipulative tactics of terrorist groups. By standing together, helping each other, going to school, finding jobs and participating in peace initiatives. we believe that youth can help build resilient communities resistant to violence and extremism”, she said.

The joint release states, “Through our membership in the Truth Alliance, Hope and Awareness Foundation, XPeace Associates and others remains dedicated to the mission of exposing and countering the tactics of violent extremist organizations.

Both organizations call on all stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders, to support in resources, opportunities and collaborate with the youth to empower them for a safer and more peaceful society. 

The Truth Alliance is committed to unmasking the truth behind violent and extremist groups and empowering communities to resist tyranny and violence. Through education, outreach, and collaboration, the Truth Alliance strives to build a safer, more resilient society for all.

In a campaign tagged ‘Time to Tell the Truth’, the Truth Alliance has come together to expose the truth behind how violent extremist groups draw young people into their ranks. Their message is simple: These groups manipulate, they deceive, they Control, they kill, they kidnap, they destroy, and their movement as well as ideology is inherently weak.

Boko Haram: Group trains young people to identify and resist extremist propaganda