BOKO HARAM: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT DOING ENOUGH – US

The United States government has accused the Federal Government of not doing enough to check the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

According to a report by the U.S Department of State, the Federal Government has failed in tackling “the grievances among northern populations.”

Released on Wednesday, the report, US Bureau of Counterterrorism 2013 Country Reports on Terrorism, an annual assessment of trends and events in international terrorism, says the government has been unsuccessful in tackling the high rate of unemployment and the lack of basic services in the region.

The report advised the Federal Government “to employ a more comprehensive strategy to address Boko Haram that combines security efforts with political and development efforts to reduce Boko Haram’s appeal, address the legitimate concerns of the people of northern Nigeria, and protect the rights of all of Nigeria’s citizens.”

It noted that the Boko Haram insurgency that has spread across the northern region is now taking on an international scale, with its activities spreading to neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

The report frowned at the shoddy execution of the war against Boko Haram. It particularly pointed at poor inter-agency collaboration and sharing of intelligence as a major hindrance to the fight against the insurgents.

It also stated that Nigeria’s weak criminal justice system is a factor in the spread of the insurgency.

SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES