US designates Boko Haram, Ansaru as terrorists

                            
The United States has formally designated the fundamentalist Islamic militant groups,  Boko Haram and Ansaru,  as “Foreign Terrorist Organisations under Section 219 of its  Immigration and Nationality Act. It also classified them as Designated Global Terrorists under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224. The White House, in a statement on Wednesday, explained that the designation constituted only a tool in a comprehensive approach by the Nigerian government towards curbing the activities of the terror groups.

The statement   quoted Lisa Monaco, the   adviser on homeland security and counterterrorism  to President Barack  Obama, as  saying that the latest development had demonstrated the support of the White House for the war against the groups in Nigeria. It  explained that with  their designation  as FTOs and  SDGTs,   financial institutions in the US had  been empowered to freeze the assets of Boko Haram and Ansaru.

The White House, according to Reuters and Sahara Reporters,   therefore encouraged the Federal Government “ to pursue a comprehensive counterterrorism approach that uses law enforcement tools effectively, creates economic opportunity, and ensures that human rights are protected and respected.” It  also stated that the designation  would  allow  the US  and  its  law enforcement partners    to investigate and prosecute terror  suspects associated with Boko Haram and Ansaru. The statement reads in part,  “These designations are an important and appropriate step, but only one tool in what must be a comprehensive approach by the Nigerian government to counter these groups through a combination of law enforcement, political, and development efforts, as well as military engagement, to help root out violent extremism while also addressing the legitimate concerns of the people of Northern Nigeria.

“All of our assistance to Nigeria stresses the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring that human rights are respected.  That assistance and these designations demonstrate the U.S. support for the Nigerian people’s fight against Boko Haram and Ansaru. “By cutting these terrorist organisations off from U.S  financial institutions and enabling banks to freeze assets held in the US, these designations demonstrate our strong support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. “Boko Haram has been conducting an ongoing and brutal campaign against Nigerian military, government, and civilian targets.

“Among its most lethal attacks, Boko Haram carried out indiscriminate attacks in Benisheikh   in September 2013 that killed more than 160 innocent civilians, including women and children.  Boko Haram has also conducted attacks against international targets, including a suicide bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja on August 26, 2011, that killed 21 people and injured dozens more, many of them aid workers supporting development projects across Nigeria.” The White House statement  described Boko Haram as a militant group with links to al-Qae’ida in the Islamic Maghreb that is responsible for thousands of deaths in North-East and central Nigeria over the   years, including targeted killings of civilians.

Ansaru is a Boko Haram splinter faction that earlier in 2013 kidnapped and executed seven international construction workers. Ansaru’s attacks have focused on  the  military and Western targets.  In November 2012, the group attacked   a police station in Abuja, killing   policemen    and freeing detained terror suspects from prison.

Also in January 2013, Ansaru   ambushed a convoy of  peacekeepers, killing some of them. It     also conducted several kidnappings of foreigners. The US  had on June 21, 2012  declared   the leader of   Boko Haram , Abubakar Shekau,  a SDGT   and placed a $7m bounty on his head. The Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), said it welcomed   the US decision.