Zamfara Looks to Colombia’s Peacebuilding Playbook to Combat Banditry and Insurgency

Governor Dauda Lawal recently led a delegation to Bogotá, Colombia, where officials studied the communication and demobilization strategies used to dismantle the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The visit was part of a broader effort to explore non-military approaches to restoring peace and economic stability in one of Nigeria’s most troubled states.

A central takeaway from the Colombian model is that military force alone cannot deliver lasting peace. Colombian authorities treated strategic communication with the same seriousness as battlefield operations, deploying coordinated radio and television campaigns alongside targeted community messaging. Rather than relying on propaganda, the approach built credible, humanizing narratives around peace — most powerfully through testimonials from former combatants who spoke candidly about their disillusionment, fear, and desire to return to family life.

In rural areas where the state had little presence, community radio stations broadcasting in local dialects became essential tools. Religious leaders, traditional elders, and former combatants were elevated as trusted messengers, helping to bridge the credibility gap that often undermines government-led outreach in conflict zones.