The United States President, Barrack Obama, has said that frustrations were the major reasons behind the activities of Boko Haram, sect which has claimed responsibilities for most of the killings in the Northern parts of Nigeria.
Speaking during a special session held by the United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs in Washington DC yesterday, the US leader, who was represented by Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the US Assistant Secretary on African Issues, said that Boko Haram capitalised on popular frustrations with the nation’s leaders, poor government, ineffective service delivery, and dismal living conditions for many northerners.?
“Over the past year, Boko Haram has created widespread insecurity across northern Nigeria, inflamed tensions between various communities, disrupted development activities, and frightened off investors. The near daily spate of bombings and attacks that have claimed the lives of thousands of Nigerians is unacceptable, and the United States strongly condemns this violence”
In his speech at the occasion, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said that Boko Haram was not only a northern problem, but a Nigerian problem with global implications.?
“This is outright terrorism, not legitimate political activity or the airing of grievances. 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,” Oritsejafor surmised.
?
?
?