The United States has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to put more pressure on Boko Haram to ensure that the terror army does not regroup. This advise follows Nigeria’s negotiations with the group, which led to the release of 21 Chibok abducted girls recently, and in spite of U.S policy of not negotiating with terrorists.
U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall, said in an interview in Maiduguri, that the Buhari administration has made progress in the fight against Boko Haram, but that the U.S. would want the federal government to step up pressure on the terrorists. “From our experiences, insurgency and terrorist groups can be very resilient, can move and again reconstitute themselves.
So it’s absolutely critical that both federal and state levels of governments partner very closely with the military campaigns to ensure they can provide security, services and good governance for the country as Boko Haram is pushed out, particularly in the neighborhoods.
At the same time, Nigeria needs to put pressure on Boko Haram,” Sewall said. She said the United States, which does not negotiate with terror groups, would not comment on how Nigeria secured the release of the schoolgirls abducted by the terrorists, but would rather support the country’s efforts at riding all forms of terror.
“We’re doing what we can in supporting Nigeria through military efforts; military partnerships, which include providing information. We’ve been engaged in the training of the Nigerian Army. We’re pleased to be partners with the Nigerian military.”
Sewall said that though Boko Haram burst onto the scene before Syrian-based ISIS, the U.S. was aware of the grave implication of Boko Haram’s allegiance to the radical islamic terror group. “The U.S. is leading an international coalition to fight ISIS and we recognize that many affiliates across the globe like Boko Haram may express allegiance to ISIS.
The U.S. will always be interested in developing partnership with the Nigerian government to defeat Boko Haram,” she assured. On the post-insurgency assessment in the northeast, Sewall described the humanitarian situation as huge. She said Americans all over the world have been watching the situation in the northeast Nigeria with great concern, but are unaware of the extent of the challenges.
“We know that people have suffered greatly from Boko Haram. We also know that the military has recorded great success with clearing areas in the northeast where there are great security challenges associated with Boko Haram, which we understand has now resulted into a huge humanitarian crisis here.
“It has been very useful to talk to those who have been displaced or those who were captured by Boko Haram, to those who are seeking to restore services and security in the areas that have been cleared, and the enormous challenges that still lie ahead.
I think there is hope. Progress has been made and I’m convinced that the world needs to pay attention to the humanitarian situation in Borno. We need to recommit ourselves to supporting Nigeria and her neighbours in concluding the fight against Boko Haram, because it is never easy to end insurgency or terrorism,” she said.
