US Warns That Boko Haram Is Operating freely in North-East

Chief of defence staff, Air marshall Alex Badeh

The United States of America  warned yesterday that the reputation of Nigeria’s military was at stake while the future of the country and her children was in jeopardy following the capture of some towns in the north eastern part of the country in the last few weeks by Boko Haram terrorists.

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who expressed deep concerns of her country on the activities of the Islamic sect in the country while participating in the International Conference on Security in Abuja, declared that failure was not an option.

Speaking on Thursday during the Third Session of the Regional Security Working Group of the Nigeria-United States Bi-national Commission, in Abuja, the envoy said the frequency and scope of Boko Haram’s terror attacks had grown more acute since August 2013, when the commission last met.

Thomas-Greenfield, stated that the United States was troubled by the capture of Bama, Borno State, noting that the conflict had affected the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people in the Lake Chad region.

Cameroon’s military,she  added, is increasingly forced to fight Boko Haram within its borders and “they flee back into Nigeria without fear.”

She said, “Since we last met in August 2013, the frequency and scope of Boko Haram’s terror attacks have grown more acute and constitute a serious threat to this country’s overall security.

“Boko Haram has shown that it can operate not only in the Northeast, but in Kano, in Abuja, and elsewhere.  We are very troubled by the apparent capture of Bama and the prospects for an attack on and in Maiduguri, which would impose a tremendous toll on the civilian population.  This is a sober reality check for all of us.  We are past time for denial and pride.”

According to her, despite the collective efforts against the insurgency, the situation on the ground is worsening.

“Cameroon’s military is increasingly forced to fight Boko Haram within its borders and they flee back into Nigeria without fear.  The Chibok schoolgirls and others remain hostages, enduring horrible and tragic suffering.

“Abubakar Shekau’s bold announcement that Boko Haram is now governing a “caliphate” only adds to the perception that the security situation is steadily worsening.  All of these developments are deeply disturbing, and increasingly dangerous with each passing day,” she stated.

The diplomat said that in order to combat the insecurity in Nigeria, President Barrack Obama launched a major security initiative to support Nigeria and the region under the Security Governance Initiative at the recent U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington.

She explained that the partnership would help  both sides to work together to identify the problem and design the solution.

 “The United States is close to announcing the launch of a major border security program under our Global Security Contingency Fund, which will include Nigeria and its neighbors Cameroon, Chad, and Niger,” the envoy stated.

Thomas-Greenfield said that her country had continued to provide technical training to military and police forces engaged in the fight against Boko Haram, adding that the US was providing advanced training to a Nigerian infantry battalion.

She said, “The United States is especially concerned about the more than 700,000 internally displaced persons and reports that those numbers continue to increase.  We are deeply troubled by the risks to their personal security and their economic livelihoods as well as the implications on food security.

“We are concerned about their ability as citizens to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections.  The fabric of too many communities is coming unwoven under the unrelenting pressure of this threat.

The militants on Monday reportedly took Bama, 70 kilometres (45 miles) from the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, where 10,000 youths, former soldiers and police gathered on Thursday, vowing to push back the advance. 

Multiple testimonies from residents, who have been fleeing Bama all week, contradicted military claims that soldiers still held the town.

“The truth is that Boko Haram fighters are in firm control of Bama,” said one resident, Muhammadu Mai Tumatur, who escaped to Maiduguri.

“They have occupied the military barracks and the palace of the Emir and they have hoisted their flags in both places. There is not a single soldier in the town. The gunmen are in control.”

Hundreds of soldiers abandoned their posts, some crossing the border into Cameroon, although the military said they had not fled but were conducting “tactical manoeuvres” that crossed the frontier.

Before the capture of Bama, Borno’s second largest town last Monday, the militants had seized Gamboru Ngala, Buni Yadi in Yobe State and Madagali in Adamawa, with Nigerian troops seemingly unable to match their firepower.

Other towns reportedly taken over by the terrorists include Gwoza, Banki, and Bara.

The US envoy, however, warned that Boko Haram constituted a serious threat to Nigeria and her neighbours and must be viewed in that light, as according to her, the claimed capture of towns by Boko Haram indicated a “steadily worsening” security situation.

There has been a controversy over whether or not the military forces were able to successfully repel the insurgents which seized Gwoza and declared it a caliphate. It was reported that the insurgents have been targeting Maiduguri, the state capital which is only about 70 kilometers from Bama, leading to the imposition of a curfew in the ancient town by the military.

Bama residents said heavily armed militants were roaming the town and had until now spared civilians.

One of them, Mustapha Tor, said a “large number” of troops were in Kawuri, 20 kilometres away, although they had not mounted a counter-attack. Most people had left because of previous atrocities, he added.

“We know what they did in Gwoza and Gamboru Ngala, where they told residents they could stay but later turned and killed them,” Tor said.