The United States State of Department has officially designated Nigeria’s fearful group, Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization.
The State Department also added another splinter group named Ansaru also operating in Nigeria for the past few months as included with Boko Haram.
Ansaru is an offshoot of Boko Haram and the group broke away from Boko Haram few months ago but has proven to be one of the formidable groups in staging attacks with dynamites. Ansaru is believed to have kidnapped and executed seven international construction workers this year.
The US on Wednesday said Boko Haram had links to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and was responsible for thousands of deaths in northeast and central Nigeria since 2009 when the group emerged.
“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,” the statement from the State Department said.
The statement also urged Nigeria to continue protecting civilians and to ensure human rights are respected.
Boko Haram has carried out attacks against international targets which include suicide bombing that killed 21 people at the United Nations building in Abuja on August 26, 2011.
With this blacklist by the US, it is a significant move that is aimed at enforcing US laws and regulatory agencies to block business and financial transactions with Boko Haram and Ansaru.
President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in 3 northern states on May 14, and deployed thousands of troops to halt the insurgency, acknowledging that militants had taken control of some towns and villages in the north.
Boko Haram is believed to have carried out a wave of bombings and assassinations since 2009 which have cost an estimate number of over 4,000 lives, and saying it wants to establish an Islamic state across Nigeria.
Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News
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