Boko
Haram has killed 13000 Nigerians – Jonathan
Nigeria’s President,
Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday told the United Nations that 13,000 Nigerians
have so far been killed by Boko Haram insurgents in the country’s North-east
zone.
The President, who
described the trend as “unacceptable,” also challenged the international
community to “act now,” to stop the global menace of terrorism.
He insisted that Boko
Haram insurgents are being funded from outside the country and called for
international support to countries on the frontline of terrorism war.
Mr. Jonathan said these
at a high level meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York,
United States of America, on Wednesday.
While describing the
activities of terrorists as unacceptable, he said Nigerians have experienced
the destructive effects of the menace during the past five years.
“Nigeria knows too well
the destructive effects of terrorist activities. Over the past five years, we
have been, and are still confronting threats posed by Boko Haram to peace and
stability predominantly in the North Eastern part of our country,” Mr. Jonathan
said.
“The costs are high: over
13,000 people have been killed, whole communities razed, and hundreds of
persons kidnapped, the most prominent being the mindless kidnap of our innocent
daughters from Chibok Secondary School, in North East Nigeria.”
While appreciating the
UN’s leadership for convening the meeting to address global terrorism concerns,
he said the resolution adopted by member states was a critical step in
mobilizing international action against terrorism.
Despite the daunting
challenge posed by Boko Haram, he said his government has doggedly mobilised
resources at its disposal to ensure that the scourge is rooted out of Nigeria.
In addition to our
counterterrorism efforts, he noted that the administration has evolved
initiatives to alleviate the plight of the population in the affected
communities.
He listed some of such
efforts to include the Presidential Initiative for the North East, Victims
Support Fund as well as the Safe Schools Initiative, which is supported by
former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.
Continuing, Mr. Jonathan
said, “We must now capitalize on the commitment and evident determination of
the Security Council to seek more innovative responses to the threat of
terrorism and in particular to the growing menace of foreign fighters,” Mr.
Jonathan said.
“The council should be
concerned about the existence of sources of arming and funding terrorists.
Evidence has shown that Boko Haram, for instance, is resourced largely from
outside our country.
“We must also commit to
ensuring that countries which are in the frontline of this challenge, receive
adequate support from the international community.
“The Resolution that we
have adopted here today is a critical first step in mobilising international
action,” said the Nigeria’s President.
Mr. Jonathan said
Nigerians and the world are horrified at the gruesome murder of two American
journalists and a British aid worker by elements linked to Islamic State, ISIS.
He noted that the murders
typified the new face of global terrorism marked by executions, extreme
brutality and impunity.
He listed Al Qaeda in the
Arab Maghreb, Al Shabaab in Somalia, and Boko Haram in North Eastern Nigeria as
some of the groups that share the agenda of unleashing terror, mayhem,
destruction and instability around the world.
The Nigerian President
noted that bands of foreign fighters have added a troubling dimension to the
emerging phase of global terrorism.
From targeted attacks by
Al Qaeda a few years ago, Mr. Jonathan said the world now witness thousands of
mobile terrorists sweeping across vast areas, destroying lives, and even
attempting to hold territory.
He, however, thanked the
American President, Barrack Obama, and the US Government for the security
governance initiative which was conceived at the US-Africa Summit in August.
“I believe, if
expeditiously implemented, the initiative will enhance security on the
continent,” Mr. Jonathan said.
“Only by united action
and firm resolve can we check this raging threat to humanity, and also build
the enduring structures that will resist their re-emergence.”
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