The United States has formally
designated the fundamentalist Islamic
militant groups, Boko Haram and
Ansaru, as “Foreign Terrorist
Organisations under Section 219 of its
Immigration and Nationality Act.
It also classified them as Designated
Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of
Executive Order 13224.
The White House, in a statement on
Wednesday, explained that the
designation constituted only a tool in a
comprehensive approach by the
Nigerian government towards curbing
the activities of the terror groups.
The statement quoted Lisa Monaco,
the adviser on homeland security and
counterterrorism to President Barack
Obama, as saying that the latest
development had demonstrated the
support of the White House for the war
against the groups in Nigeria.
It explained that with their
designation as FTOs and SDGTs,
financial institutions in the US had been
empowered to freeze the assets of
Boko Haram and Ansaru.
The White House, according to Reuters
and Sahara Reporters, therefore
encouraged the Federal Government “
to pursue a comprehensive
counterterrorism approach that uses law
enforcement tools effectively, creates
economic opportunity, and ensures that
human rights are protected and
respected.”
It also stated that the designation
would allow the US and its law
enforcement partners to investigate
and prosecute terror suspects
associated with Boko Haram and Ansaru.
The statement reads in part, “These
designations are an important and
appropriate step, but only one tool in
what must be a comprehensive
approach by the Nigerian government
to counter these groups through a
combination of law enforcement,
political, and development efforts, as
well as military engagement, to help
root out violent extremism while also
addressing the legitimate concerns of
the people of Northern Nigeria.
“All of our assistance to Nigeria stresses
the importance of protecting civilians
and ensuring that human rights are
respected. That assistance and these
designations demonstrate the U.S.
support for the Nigerian people’s fight
against Boko Haram and Ansaru.
“By cutting these terrorist organisations
off from U.S financial institutions and
enabling banks to freeze assets held in
the US, these designations demonstrate
our strong support for Nigeria’s fight
against terrorism.
“Boko Haram has been conducting an
ongoing and brutal campaign against
Nigerian military, government, and
civilian targets.
“Among its most lethal attacks, Boko
Haram carried out indiscriminate attacks
in Benisheikh in September 2013 that
killed more than 160 innocent civilians,
including women and children. Boko
Haram has also conducted attacks
against international targets, including a
suicide bombing of the United Nations
building in Abuja on August 26, 2011,
that killed 21 people and injured dozens
more, many of them aid workers
supporting development projects across
Nigeria.”
The White House statement described
Boko Haram as a militant group with
links to al-Qae’ida in the Islamic
Maghreb that is responsible for
thousands of deaths in North-East and
central Nigeria over the years, including
targeted killings of civilians.
Ansaru is a Boko Haram splinter faction
that earlier in 2013 kidnapped and
executed seven international
construction workers.
Ansaru’s attacks have focused on the
military and Western targets. In
November 2012, the group attacked a
police station in Abuja, killing
policemen and freeing detained terror
suspects from prison.
Also in January 2013, Ansaru ambushed
a convoy of peacekeepers, killing some
of them. It also conducted several
kidnappings of foreigners.
The US had on June 21, 2012 declared
the leader of Boko Haram , Abubakar
Shekau, a SDGT and placed a $7m
bounty on his head.
The Federal Government, through the
Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed
Adoke (SAN), said it welcomed the US
decision.
Adoke, in an interview with journalists
in Abuja on Wednesday night, said,
““The US stance is a welcome
development; we salute the US
Government for partnering with us to
root out terrorism.
“This step will assist Nigeria to deal with
these renegades. It will also help in
strengthening the proscription of Boko
Haram by the government.
“We urge other super powers to
emulate the US government to check
terrorism in any part of the world. A
threat to any nation by insurgents is a
threat to global peace.”
The Director of Defence Information,
Brig. Gen Chris Olukolade, in an
interview with one of our
correspondents, said the US action
would enhance collaborative efforts
geared towards tackling the Boko Haram
insurgency.
Olukolade said, “It is most welcome
and we hope it would enhance more
collaboration to tackle the evil. It will
enhance the required collaboration
globally.
“It will enhance the support that we
expect everywhere from all citizens
both in Nigeria and across the world.”
Also, the Christian Association of
Nigeria said the development was a
vindication of its earlier position on the
sect.
The Public Relations Officer of CAN in
the 19 Northern States and Abuja, Mr.
Sunny Oibe, said, “We saw it coming.
We thank God that at last, the US
government has realised it.
“With this , the position of CAN has
been justified that Boko Haram is a
terrorist organisation because next to
Al-Qaida, Boko Haram kill more human
beings than every other terrorist
organisation in the world.”
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