Boko Haram Strikes Again
At least more hundred of civilians were killed in two separate attacks launched by Boko Haram Islamists in northeastern Nigeria.
According to media reports, Islamist insurgents dressed in military uniforms stormed the Christian farming village of in Nigerian state of Borno. The rebels opened fire on residents.
The insuregents arrived in the village riding in trucks and on motorcycles. Without mercy they opened fire and hacked male residents they had assembled in the village square. They even search houses looking for male residents who were hiding.
The attack created massiv clamor and panic in nearby villages forcing them to flee for safety at the neighboring Madagali district in Adamawa state.
On Brutal killing rampage
The local government pointed out that Boko Haram rebels were responsible of the attack. The rebels looted businesses and food stores. They were on killing spree and looting activities.
In other incident, the Boko Haram rebels opened fire on a fishing village along Lake Chad.
The rebels opened fire from all directions, forcing residents to jump into the lake to escape. Many drowned while others were gunned down as well.
Still not satisfied with their brutalities, Boko mounted another attack in Bama, setting 1,500 buildings ablaze, killing more than 115 people and leaving many others injured.
US deplores the deadly attacks
In apress statement in Washington Dc, USSecretary of State John John Kerry said the unspeakable violence and acts of terror like the ones committed by Boko Haram last week in northern Nigeria are horrific, wrong, and have no place in the world.
To halt the violence perpetrated by the BOko Haram, Secretary Kerry said the US supports Nigerian authorities’ efforts to investigate these cowardly acts and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He added the the people of northern Nigeria deserve to live free from violence and from terror.
The United States is providing counterterrorism assistance to help Nigerian authorities develop a comprehensive approach to combat the threat posed by Boko Haram while protecting civilians and ensuring respect for human rights.
“We stand with the people of Northern Nigeria in their struggle against violent extremism.” – Secretary Kerry
Boko Haram Causes Instability In Nigeria
Boko Haram’s ideology opposes Western culture and education. The grou seeks to overthrow the Nigerian state and replace it with a regime enforcing strict shari’a law.
In addition, Boko Haram has exploited religious rhetoric in an attempt to justify its violence, casting the state as hopelessly corrupt and un-Islamic.
Boko Haram’s activities call attention not just to violence, but also to poverty and inequality in Nigeria.
US Holistic Approach To Countering The Threats of Boko Haram
The United States is committed to helping the Nigerian Government and people counter the threat posed by Boko Haram and associated violent extremist groups.
In recent years, the US government has worked to help isolate Boko Haram’s leaders.
In June 2012, the State Department designated Boko Haram’s top commanders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224. In June 2013, the State Department added Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram’s official leader, to US Rewards for Justice Program and offered up to $7 million for information leading to his location.
Specially Designated Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224.
In addtion, the United States has recently taken additional steps to counter the threat posed by Boko Haram and Ansaru.
The State Department designated both as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224.
Nigeria is the 22nd fastest-growing economy in the world, the 13th largest supplier of oil to the global market, and the second largest destination for U.S. private investment in Africa.
The significant mutual interests both US and Nigeria share have led the two countries to build a robust bilateral relationship.
Sectarian Violence Escalates in Nigeria
Earlier in 2012, spiralling violence escalated in Nigeria as Boko Haram group unleashed a series of attacks.
Boko Haram is a local terrorist group professing allegiance to Al Qaeda. Boko Haram militants attacked several churches on Christmas Day, killing dozens of worshippers. The bombings occurred in Madala, on the outskirts of Abuja, the Nigerian capital, and in the north-eastern city of Jos.
The United Nations human rights chief, Navi Pillay, urged a bold effort by Nigeria’s political and religious leaders to halt the spiralling sectarian violence.
Boko Haram, which aims to install strict Shariah, or Islamic, law across Nigeria, has vowed to keep killing Christians in the multiethnic country.