Obama: War Against Boko Haram Requires Holistic Approach

United States President, Mr. Barrack Obama, on Thursday said that the war against Boko Haram and the US resolve to counter terrorism in Nigeria required a holistic approach, adding that his administration would continue to work with Nigeria and other international partners to help promote and support such an approach to the Islamic Sect which has been unleashing terrors on innocent citizens of the country. This was contained in a fact sheet made available by the White House.

President Obama was quoted in the fact sheet as saying that the United States had been working to counter Boko Haram for many years and promised that his administration would continue to do so until the terrorist organization is conquered totally.

The US leader was also quoted as saying that the kidnapping of hundreds of children by Boko Haram was an ‘unconscionable’ crime, stressing that his government would do everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return these young women to their homes and to hold the perpetrators to justice.

The first part of this fact sheet provides information about Boko Haram and the many atrocities it committed in Nigeria prior to its attack on a girls’ secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, where it kidnapped approximately 300 girls while the latter part provides information about various U.S.
Department of State initiatives and programs to assist Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts, such as the Anti-terrorism Assistance Program and the Trans-Sahara Counter-terrorism Partnership.

The fact sheet noted that counter-terrorism support to Nigeria focused on building critical counter-terrorism capabilities among Nigeria’s civilian and law enforcement agencies, stressing that this supported the larger U.S. objective of encouraging Nigeria to develop and implement a comprehensive approach to counter Boko Haram. It added that this would uphold and enforce the rule of law, provide civilian protection, respect human rights and international norms, and address the underlying
grievances that Boko Haram exploits.

The fact sheet reads: “Based on our longstanding concerns about Boko Haram, we have a robust security dialogue and assistance relationship with Nigeria. As part of the Bi-National Commission Framework, we hold regular Regional Security working group meetings focused on the Boko Haram threat and ways our two governments can collaborate on a holistic approach to countering the group.
“Our security assistance is in line with our efforts to ensure Nigeria takes a comprehensive approach to countering Boko Haram. We are working to build Nigerian law enforcement capacities to investigate terrorism cases, effectively deal with explosive devices, and secure Nigeria’s borders, while underscoring that the most effective counter-terrorism policies and practices are those that respect human rights and are underpinned by the rule of law.

“We are also focused on enabling various Nigerian security services with fusing multiple information streams to develop a better understanding of Boko Haram. Our military assistance supports the professionalization of key military units and improves their ability to plan and implement appropriate steps to counter Boko Haram and ensure civilian security”

In a related development, the United Nations expert committee tasked with monitoring discrimination against women has added its voice to the chorus of condemnation of the abduction of over 200 girls from their school in north-eastern Nigeria and called for their immediate release.

In a news release obtained by our correspondent, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women expressed deep concern about the fate of the girls, who were abducted on 14 April during a violent raid by the militant group known as Boko Haram in the village of Chibok in Borno state, urging Nigeria to employ all necessary means to obtain the release of the girls and to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Chairperson Nicole Ameline stated that the Committee considers that this large-scale abduction from an educational institution for enslavement constitutes a direct violation of articles 5, 6 and 10 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women – worldwide implementation of which the Committee monitors – and may qualify as a crime against humanity.
She added that, according to General Recommendation No. 30, issued by the Committee in 2013, States must take measures to prevent the occurrence of attacks and threats against school girls and their teachers; and ensure that perpetrators of such acts of violence are promptly investigated, prosecuted and punished.

- Leadership

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