Zamfara Turns to Colombia’s Playbook, Blends Communication Strategy into Fight Against Banditry

In a bid to confront the persistent challenges of terrorism, insurgency, and banditry, the Zamfara State Government says it has completed an in-depth study of Colombia’s strategic communication framework, with particular attention to non-kinetic methods used to resolve prolonged conflicts.

The initiative followed an exchange programme in Bogotá, led by Governor Dauda Lawal, where officials examined how Colombia applied communication-driven strategies alongside military efforts during its conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

According to the Zamfara Government, the objective is to adapt lessons from Colombia’s demobilisation and reintegration process to the state’s unique security realities, with the broader goal of restoring economic stability and guaranteeing safe movement for residents.

Officials noted that the Colombian experience demonstrated that military action alone was insufficient to secure lasting peace. Instead, communication was elevated to the same strategic importance as combat operations. Through coordinated use of radio, television, and community-based messaging, Colombian authorities offered credible alternatives to violence, steering away from propaganda and focusing on trust-building narratives.

A major pillar of Colombia’s success, the government observed, was the use of testimonies from former fighters. Ex-combatants shared personal accounts marked by fear, regret, and longing for family, either anonymously or publicly. These stories, officials said, resonated deeply with active fighters weighing their options and served as a compelling counterpoint to abstract official messaging.

The Colombian model also relied on highly targeted communication. Active fighters received practical information on how to demobilise and access reintegration programmes, families were reached with emotional appeals around separation and reunion, communities were prepared to accept returning fighters, and the wider public was engaged with narratives that framed peace as a shared national responsibility.

In rural areas of Colombia where government presence was limited, community radio stations broadcasting in local dialects proved critical. Authorities deliberately amplified trusted voices, including religious leaders, respected elders, and reformed combatants, to overcome deep-rooted mistrust of state institutions in conflict-affected zones.

Governor Lawal, however, acknowledged that the Colombian template cannot be transplanted wholesale. Zamfara’s security crisis is driven by loosely organised groups motivated by a mix of economic hardship, revenge, and criminal opportunity. As a result, any media-driven intervention must be carefully customised to speak to these different realities.

Given literacy gaps and weak infrastructure in parts of the state, the government is exploring communication channels that are widely accessible. These include local FM radio, mosque announcements, market-place megaphones, and audio messages shared via WhatsApp. Where confidence in government is low, the most persuasive messengers, officials said, may be former bandits who have laid down arms, alongside respected Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, and community leaders.

The Zamfara Government also believes media can play a vital role in countering recruitment by armed groups. By showcasing vocational training opportunities, youth success stories, and practical alternatives to violence, campaigns are expected to challenge the appeal of banditry while honestly portraying the fear, trauma, and grim outcomes associated with it.

As Governor Lawal put it, “The Colombian strategy reveals that communication is not merely soft power; it is a crucial component of hard strategy. A bullet can end a fighter’s life; a well-crafted message can create a pathway to peace for countless individuals.”

The government says such campaigns are especially important for reaching those beyond the scope of military force—people trapped by circumstance, coerced into violence, or drawn into armed groups out of desperation rather than ideology.

Authorities say Zamfara will continue to adapt these lessons into local languages and cultural contexts, with the aim of protecting lives and laying the groundwork for sustainable peace across the state.