Don’t label Boko Haram terrorist group, says Fed Govt

The Federal Government has spoken against branding Islamist group Boko Haram a terrorist organisation by the United States (US) as demanded by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leader Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.At a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi said the US Congress should have sought the government’s opinion instead of that of a particular religious leader.

The committee’s clerk, ALhaji Mohammed Zakari, yesterday quoted Uhomoibhi as saying Boko Haram (Western Education is a sin) was a security challenge, which the country had not seen since Independence.

“US should have sought the opinion of Nigeria and not that of CAN or its leader. Nigeria is a secular country, so, seeking the opinion of a religious group is wrong’’ he said.

On July 10, Pastor Oritsejafor addressed a US parliament of the House Sub-committee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights on “U.S. Policy Toward Nigeria: West Africa’s Troubled Titan’’, saying Boko Haram is not only a northern problem, but a Nigerian problem with global implications.

“ Boko Haram has waged a systematic campaign of terror and violence. They seek an end to western influence and a removal of the Christian presence in Nigeria. This is outright terrorism, not legitimate political activity or the airing of grievances’’, he said.

Oritsejafor added: “To this end, by refusing to designate Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation, the United States is sending a very clear message, not just to the Federal Government of Nigeria, but to the world that the murder of innocent Christians and Muslims who reject Islamism, and I make a clear distinction here between Islam and Islamism, are acceptable losses.

“It is hypocritical for the United States and the international community to say that they believe in freedom and equality, when their actions do not support those who are being persecuted.

“A non-designation for the group only serves to hamper the cause of justice, and has emboldened Boko Haram to continue to strike out at those who are denied equal protection under the law. “

Uhomoibhi told the Hon. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje-led House committee that statement like this was capable of subjecting Nigerians all over the world to rough scrutiny by US agents and other international agencies.

“For us at the Ministry, Boko Haram should not be designated as International Terrorist Organisation (ITO) or Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) as Nigeria is a secular country and we are working with all other stakeholders to resolve this menace’’, Uhomoibhi said.

Ms Elendu-Ukeje said the committee wanted to know the official position of the government on the issue.

She said though Nigeria is a multi-diverse and multi religious country, it was necessary for the Ministry to let the committee know its thinking and that of the government on the proper designation of Boko Haram.

On June 21, the US designated three leaders of the militant group as terrorists in a bid to stem violence in Nigeria, which has endured a series of deadly attacks.

Those named by the State Department were Abubakar Shekau, widely believed to lead Boko Haram’s main Islamist cell; Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid al-Barnawi.

But the US stopped short of putting the group as a whole on its terror list.

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