The Women Rescuing Yobe From Violent Extremism

Leading a quiet yet transformative movement in Nigeria are the Mu Gudu Tare fellows, participants in a groundbreaking programme funded by the Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism. This initiative empowers women to confront entrenched patriarchal norms that often sideline them in efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism. Though supported by international funding, the fellowship was meticulously designed to ensure sustainability beyond external resources. By combining small grants for advocacy and community development projects with communal-focused technological tools—like WhatsApp and Signal groups for mentorship and knowledge exchange—the programme creates a model for enduring, community-led solutions. 

For me, Imrana, this work is deeply personal. In 2010, I survived a Boko Haram attack that left an indelible mark on my life and fuelled my resolve to counter the violence devastating my community. Over the years, I noticed a troubling pattern: in mixed-gender capacity-building programmes, men dominated applications and discussions, while women, even when selected, rarely participated actively. This imbalance drove me to create a women-only fellowship, ensuring that women’s voices and leadership in early-warning systems and peacebuilding receive the attention they deserve. Mansurah, my co-author and consultant on the Mu Gudu Tare project, played a crucial role in documenting its impact. Through carefully listening to participants’ powerful testimonies and capturing their transformational journeys, Mansurah revealed the profound resilience and agency of these women. Together, we recognized that their stories needed a larger platform. By sharing these narratives, we aim to amplify their achievements and underscore the importance of empowering women in the fight against violent extremism. 

During the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2013, the insurgents’ strategy of employing women and children as suicide bombers prompted some women to join the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a civilian defence militia that supports the Nigerian military in protecting communities from Boko Haram attacks. These women took on critical roles, including frisking women at checkpoints, gathering intelligence, guarding women in camps for internally displaced persons and occasionally engaging in combat against Boko Haram. A prominent example is Aisha Gombi Bakari from Adamawa State, widely known as the ‘Boko Haram huntress’ for her fearless efforts in tracking insurgents in the Sambisa Forest and assisting in the search for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.  

Though women were allowed to participate in counter-insurgency efforts during the chaos of the Boko Haram attacks, patriarchy swiftly reasserted itself as Boko Haram was driven out of the major towns. After formalization of the CJTF in 2015, the structure became increasingly patriarchal and hierarchical, further marginalizing women. Male CJTF members reinforced traditional gender roles, relegating women to secondary positions. Women were often confined to office roles or deployed for women-specific tasks, such as searching homes for female suspects, due to cultural and religious norms prohibiting men from searching women. Over time, more women left the CJTF, driven out by societal stigma and accusations of impropriety for working in a male-dominated security sector. 

In today’s north-east Nigeria, where state forces and the formalized CJTF dominate the security landscape, the role of civilians has increasingly shifted towards Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE). This agenda represents a pivot away from hard-security approaches, focusing instead on addressing the underlying factors that drive recruitment into armed groups. However, entrenched patriarchal norms in the region often limit women’s involvement in P/CVE to roles as nurturers and moral guides. Stakeholders frequently emphasize their ability as mothers to detect early signs of radicalization within their families—a perspective that, while valuable, risks reducing women’s contributions to the private sphere. Such framing overlooks their broader capacity to engage as leaders, strategists and active participants in peacebuilding and P/CVE initiatives, which is essential for sustainable and inclusive conflict prevention efforts. 

The Mu Gudu Tare Fellowship seeks to challenge these limitations, advocating for women’s active participation in policy, programming and on-the-ground peacebuilding initiatives, aligning with its name, which translates to ‘let’s run together’ in Hausa. As Hadiza, a fellow from Dapchi, reveals: 

When the Mu Gudu Tare Fellowship opened applications in March 2024, more than 500 young women applied within just two weeks. Selecting only 30 participants, aged 18 to 35, was no easy task. Applicants completed online forms that had them detailing the violent extremist threats in their communities and their motivation for joining the fellowship. Many cited personal losses, such as the death of a loved one to Boko Haram, as a primary drive in their commitment to countering extremism. To ensure inclusivity, especially for those with limited internet access, eight fellows—five from rural areas and three with disabilities—were selected through collaboration with local partners and phone interviews. These applicants expressed their desire to create change but noted a lack of support from other women. 

The fellowship prioritized diversity and required at least a secondary school education, offering training in both Hausa and English. Participants represented Yobe State’s ethnic and religious diversity, including Hausa, Kanuri, Fulani, Ngizim and Bolewa communities, as well as Muslim and Christian faiths. This approach fostered inclusivity and aimed to break socio-economic and cultural barriers. 

As part of their community projects, the fellows have undertaken an array of proactive measures. They recently led a sensitization programme on conflict early warning signs for women in Dapchi, aiming to increase local awareness against extremist influence. But their role does not stop there. To ensure women are not confined to the private sphere, they also met with the district head of Dapchi in Bursari Local Government, advocating for women’s full inclusion in traditional early warning mechanisms—not just as passive informants, but as active participants in decision-making and community resilience efforts. 

In Dapchi, as in many conservative communities in north-eastern Nigeria affected by violent extremism, women have traditionally been silent witnesses to rising tensions. Fatima, the team lead for the Sensitization for Women on Early Warning Signs, a community-based initiative aimed at enhancing women’s role in identifying and responding to conflict indicators, described how women often detect subtle changes in their surroundings—unusual nocturnal gatherings, shifts in community mood or the sudden appearance of strangers. Despite their keen observations, cultural norms compel them to adopt an ‘ostrich approach’, ignoring these warning signs rather than addressing them. ‘Traditional norms discourage them from acting or speaking out on matters of security,’ Fatima explained. 

This dynamic stems from a cultural and religious framework that prioritizes male authority and female compliance, further reinforced by a deep respect for age and seniority. In much of northern Nigeria, local customs dictate that women should avoid extended interactions with unrelated men, limiting their voice in public or in security-related matters. Women often depend on male guardians for status, access to resources and social mobility. While age, education or financial independence can sometimes provide women with the leverage to navigate male-dominated spaces, young women without these privileges—or connections to influential men—remain marginalized and voiceless, their potential contributions to community security largely untapped. 

A team of four young women between 20 and 35 years organized a series of workshops specifically aimed at educating women in Dapchi on how to identify early warning signs of conflict and what steps to take when they see these signs. The workshops were not just lectures; they were interactive sessions that encouraged the women to share their experiences and insights. Fatima and her team used the skills gained from the Mu Gudu Tare Fellowship to foster trust and open communication, ensuring that the women felt valued and heard. Reflecting on her experience after the fellowship, she noted that:  

Through role-playing exercises, they taught hundreds how to document signs of potential conflict and who to report these signs to. The community embraced the sensitization efforts, with women from different ethnic and religious backgrounds participating actively. As a result of the campaign, the women formed a peace group within the community, elected their leaders and committed to working closely with traditional leaders and local authorities to promote women’s participation in community development. One elderly woman who attended one of the sessions shared (We have translated her response from Hausa and edited it for clarity): 

This shift was more than symbolic—it marked a transformative step towards gender inclusion in a region where women’s voices have long been excluded from public decision-making. Yet, some fellows faced the same stigmatization as the female CJTF members, accused of engaging in prostitution or ‘teaching feminism’ instead of adhering to traditional domestic roles. When programme organizers offered hotel accommodations for participants travelling from distant locations, some unmarried fellows declined, fearing that staying in a hotel would label them as ‘yan iska (wayward women), jeopardizing their advocacy efforts. Recognizing these challenges, the fellowship created a supportive space for them to share experiences and navigate such reactions. Through discussions, peer support and role-playing, the fellows gained confidence and practical tools to challenge misconceptions, combat stigma and advocate for more inclusive approaches to peacebuilding. 

Despite these obstacles, the fellows actively participate in reporting early warning signs by attending security meetings and collaborating with state security forces and community leaders. They share critical insights, gathered from community interactions, to identify emerging threats and advocate for timely interventions. Their inclusion in these forums ensures that women’s perspectives and priorities are part of decision-making, strengthening early-warning systems and fostering trust between communities and security actors. In Dapchi, these women are now instrumental in preventing conflict before it escalates, reshaping both community safety and perceptions of women’s leadership. This progress is supported by the openness of traditional leaders, including the district head of Dapchi, who have embraced women’s roles in conflict prevention frameworks. 

As community acceptance grows, the long-term potential of these efforts includes a sustainable early warning system, broader recognition of women’s public contributions and the foundation for a more inclusive and resilient society. Muhammad Pindar, the Monitoring and Evaluation officer overseeing the project, notes: 

Beyond making an impact in their communities, the fellowship also empowered the young women professionally to continue to play leadership roles in their communities and nationally. One fellow who benefitted from this transformative impact is Shamsiyya, a 28-year-old from Potiskum, Yobe State, who also experienced the harsh impact of Boko Haram violence on her education. In 2012, when she was just two years away from completing secondary school, her schooling was interrupted by the activities of Boko Haram. Shamsiyya had to miss three months of education, a critical time in her academic journey. This delay made her question if she would ever be able to achieve her dreams and aspirations of becoming a peace advocate. 

Since joining the Mu Gudu Tare Fellowship, Shamsiyya has not only advocated for resilience but has also personally empowered other women with the belief that they are the hope of those affected by violent extremism. ‘I continue and will continue to encourage the women in my community to move from a place of vulnerability to one of leadership and action,’ Shamsiyya says. In addition to her grassroots efforts, Shamsiyya has leveraged the media by hosting a radio programme on Sunshine FM 88.1 Potiskum that showcases the work of the Mu Gudu Tare Fellowship. This radio programme has become a powerful tool as she’s able to reach a wider audience, spreading awareness about the fellowship’s mission to promote gender transformation and counter violent extremism. 

Shamsiyya’s involvement in the Mu Gudu Tare Fellowship paved the way for her selection into the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI), an esteemed programme that unites Nigerian youth with outstanding vision, talent and experience to launch projects aimed at uplifting Nigerian society. She first heard about the CYFI through a call for applications shared in the Mu Gudu Tare fellows’ WhatsApp group, as part of the fellowship’s mentorship support. Eager to deepen her knowledge of leadership and community development, Shamsiyya applied and was thrilled to be selected. Now, she is looking forward to honing her skills and connecting with other young leaders from across Nigeria. Shamsiyya plans to use the leadership, communication and advocacy skills she gained from the Mu Gudu Tare Fellowship and her selection as a Carrington Youth fellow to shape a future that empowers and uplifts women from all walks of life, especially those without formal education. She wants to leverage her experience in organizing training sessions, facilitating discussions and designing community-driven solutions to mentor women who may not have access to traditional educational systems. 

The journey of the Mu Gudu Tare fellows sheds light on how the fight against violent extremism also serves as a platform to challenge deep-seated patriarchal norms in Nigeria. Women like Fatima and Shamsiyya, stepping forward as active architects of peace rather than silent observers, disrupt a system that has long marginalized their insights and leadership. Their success in establishing early warning systems and fostering grassroots solutions underscores a critical point for policymakers: that empowering women is not merely a matter of gender equity but a security imperative. The transformative ripple effects from Dapchi show that when women are equipped with the tools to lead, they rebuild their communities and lay the foundations for a legacy that transcends the spectre of extremism. 

This paradigm shift resonates beyond Nigeria, offering a lens to examine the intersection of gender, violence and resistance in other regions, such as Kenya and Somalia, where women actively resist Al-Shabaab through organizing, counter-narratives and victim support networks. These shared struggles highlight how women, burdened by patriarchal structures and violence, turn marginalization into agency, reshaping power dynamics across African contexts. Women have always been pivotal in building the social networks and infrastructure on which both state and nonstate actors depend. Recognizing and amplifying their contributions is essential to crafting a more inclusive and sustainable approach to peace and security⎈