Boko Haram wanted by Nigerian forces!
Following President Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in the Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, violence has spiked higher in the African country.
Reports say Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan declared emergency in states after losing control of certain areas to Boko Haram, an Islamist movement.
President Jonathan reportedly ordered more troops to be sent to the north-eastern states to stop the flow of insurgency and violence.
However, the Nigerian forces are accused of committing gross human rights violations in response to criminal activity. Reports emerged that Nigeria’s security services have likely extrajudicially murdered Boko Haram militants and large numbers of young men who are never formally arrested, prosecuted, or tried.
Speculations made headlines that Islamist violence and the brutal response from the security forces are making the northeast part of Nigeria unsafe place.
The Boko Haram ectremist group has been blamed for most of the violence and has killed 2,000 people since 2010.
Boko Haram and its splinter groups have fought against state security services in the northeastern fishing village of Baga, in Borno, also a state pronounced in the emergency declaration.
US Deeply concerned by about the fighting in northeastern Nigeria
US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed deep concern on the escalation violence in Nigeria followingPresident Jonathan’s declaration of state of emergency in the Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
The US is also deeply concerned by credible allegations that Nigerian security forces are committing gross human rights violations, which, in turn, only escalate the violence and fuel extremism.
In addition, the United States condemns Boko Haram’s campaign of terror in the strongest terms.
The US urges Nigeria’s security forces to apply disciplined use of force in all operations, protect civilians in any security response, and respect human rights and the rule of law.
Sectarian Violence Escalates in Nigeria
Earlier in 2012, a spiralling violence has escalated in Nigeria as Boko Haram group unleashed series of recent 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.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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.
