US: Nigeria Requires Strong Character to Overcome Terrorism

The United States has again said for Nigeria to successfully counter extremists within its territory, it needs to deploy all of the strengths and characters it can summon against the activities of the insurgent groups in the northern region. It said Nigeria’s talents and federal character which drew on the abilities of its people from all regions, sectors and parts of the country could become useful in this regard, adding that it was diversity that allows for problems to be approached from multiple angles at the same time, especially in addressing the activities of the Boko Haram sect. A statement issued Wednesday, from the Public Affairs Section of the US Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria in Abuja, which contained a summary of propositions presented to the federal government by its Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, disclosed that Sherman had also asked the Nigerian government to provide more training for the Nigerian military and other services to address the challenges it faces, particularly with the insurgency in the North. The statement, which was part of the conclusion reached at the ninth meeting of the Nigerian-US Bi-National Commission (BNC), also stated that the US acknowledged the need for greater public diplomacy in terms of communicating to the people that justice and accountability are important in the fight against terrorism. It said: “Countering extremists within Nigeria requires using all of the strengths that Nigeria has to offer: its talent and its federal character that draw on the abilities of Nigerians from all regions, all sectors and all parts of the country, and its diversity that allows for approaching problems from multiple angles at the same time. Sherman added that “the talents of all the people of Nigeria were needed to confront the issues before them by seizing the opportunities which exist to have Nigeria realise her dream as a great nation.” Meanwhile, Amnesty International has said it never apologised to Nigeria for alleged factual errors in its 2012 report about human rights violations committed by the Nigerian security forces. Responding to media reports on comments attributed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, who alleged that Amnesty International had apologised for factual errors in its 2012 report about human rights violations committed by the Nigerian security forces, Deputy Africa Director of Amnesty International, Lucy Freeman, disclosed that it was disappointed by Ashiru’s allegations. Freeman said in a statement made available to THISDAY, that: “Amnesty International is deeply disappointed by the minister's comments, the government should be demonstrating its commitment to human rights by investigating credible and serious allegations of human rights violations by its security forces.” She further noted that: “Amnesty International stands by the findings of its report ‘Trapped in the Cycle of Violence’ launched in November 2012. Amnesty International has never, publicly nor privately, apologised for any of the contents of the report and stands by its research, conclusions and findings 100 per cent. “In a meeting with the Attorney General in Abuja on 1 August 2013, Amnesty International reiterated its concerns about grave human rights violations committed by the Nigerian security forces and received assurances from government that it was conducting investigations into them.”