How To End Boko Haram Terrorism----United State Speaks

WASHINGTON Thursday underscored the imperative of tackling terrorist group, Boko Haram, by the Nigerian government.

  According to the United States (U.S.), Nigeria will not fully achieve its potential as a stable regional leader until it successfully overcomes the terror group and secures peace and protection for its citizens.

  American Under Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, stated during the opening session of U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission’s Regional Security Co-operation Working Group in Abuja that the most populous African nation’s success was important to his country.

  She said that the U.S. would continue to invest in Nigeria’s institutions, people and businesses to both countries’ mutual benefit.  

  According to the envoy, the U.S. recognises that success cannot be achieved unless Nigeria surmounts the challenges that frustrate progress, and that it is in this spirit that Washington DC engages the working group on regional security cooperation.

  According to her, Nigeria faces several challenges to national and regional stability.  

  Her words: “The largest of these challenges is, of course, the Boko Haram-led insurgency operating in the country’s North-East that has created widespread insecurity across northern Nigeria, increased tensions between various ethnic communities, interrupted development activities, frightened off investors and generated concerns among Nigeria’s northern neighbours.  

  “We know that Boko Haram offers no practical solutions to northern Nigeria’s problems. Instead, it capitalises on popular frustrations, religious differences and economic and social difficulties, seeking to undermine the government and exploit religious differences in order to create chaos and make Nigeria ungovernable. The U.S. knows from experience the immense difficulty in confronting an enemy that respects no boundaries and kills civilians indiscriminately.  

  “Today, I hope that our teams can identify specific areas in the context of regional security where we can deepen our partnership and chart concrete steps forward on those topics on which we are already working together.”

  She said security efforts were necessary to protect innocent Nigerians, prevent Boko Haram’s acts of violence and to capture and prosecute its leaders.  

  The Nigerian government and military, according to her, must also win over the hearts and minds of northern people by protecting them and providing timely and commensurate justice to both insurgents and the victims of the unfortunate conflict.  

  According to her, a comprehensive approach that addresses socio-economic problems, articulates clear rules of engagement and commits to accountability for those who perpetrate violence, both Boko Haram and security forces, will demonstrate to Nigerians that their future is brighter in a more secure country.

  She spoke further: “This may require a new social compact with Nigerian citizens that encompasses an economic recovery strategy as a complement to the government’s security strategy. This approach will be successful to the extent that it can garner the support of northern governors and local officials, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and a generation of young Nigerians who are connected to their government, locally and federally.

   “Achieving success will not be easy, but we are ready to work with you as one of your strongest and most faithful friends and partners, to discuss new ways of help. We stand ready to work together to develop a multi-faceted strategy to counter the threat posed by Boko Haram that also demonstrates to civilians that they will be protected.  

   “Nigeria’s diverse people, land and spirit have already established a foundation for long-term national and regional stability; however, with today’s insurgent challenges, strong nations must deepen our commitment to respect human life and dignity, build peace, and prevent future atrocities, even in the midst of a protracted conflict with a violent enemy.  

  “We look forward to hearing Nigeria’s unique accounts of what steps you are taking to ensure transparency, accountability and justice, including access for civil society organisations and journalists to the North and what steps have been taken to bring to justice those accused of human rights violations.”

  She stated that the U.S. had named three individuals as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, demonstrating its resolve in working with Nigeria to diminish the capacity of Boko Haram to execute violent attacks.  

  She said her country had also provided assistance focused on identifying areas for information-sharing, enhancing security force professionalism and developing tactics to increase public confidence in Nigeria’s security response and improving the country’s forensic and investigative capacity.  

  “The United States has also been working with Nigerian peace-keepers that are deployed in missions across Africa to make sure they have the training and equipment necessary for global peace and security missions. In fact, since 2004, we have trained over 800 staff officers and more than 41,000 troops through the Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) programme,” she added.