Boko Haram exploiting religion to make Nigeria ungovernable - US

Wendy Sherman

The United States Thursday said the ongoing terrorists acts perpetrated in parts of northern Nigeria by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, offered no practical solutions to the challenges of development in the north.

It explained that the terrorist group was capitalising on popular local frustrations, religious differences as well as economic and social difficulties to undermine the Nigerian government while also exploiting religious differences to create chaos and make Nigeria ungovernable for the government.

Assessing government’s strategies in the fight against terrorism in the north, the US equally advocated the initiation of a new approach that would complement government’s counter-terrorism strategy in northern Nigeria.

The new approach, it said, should encompass an economic recovery strategy that would attract the support of governors, local chiefs and young people of the region.

The US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, stated this at the opening session of the ninth Nigeria-US Binational Commission (BNC) meeting in Abuja, where she also reiterated her country’s resolve to continue working with Nigeria towards securing a stable future that ensures civilian security and provides for the well-being of Nigerians.

“Nigeria faces several challenges to national and regional stability.  The largest of these challenges is, of course, a Boko Haram-led insurgency operating in the country’s North-east that has created widespread insecurity across northern Nigeria, increased tensions between various ethnic communities, interrupted development activities, frightened off investors, and generated concern among Nigeria’s northern neighbours.

“Nigeria cannot fully achieve its potential as a stable regional leader until Nigeria successfully overcomes the challenge of Boko Haram and secures peace and protection for all its citizens in all regions.

“We know that Boko Haram offers no practical solution to northern Nigeria’s problems. Instead, it capitalises on popular frustrations, religious differences, and economic and social difficulties, seeking to undermine the government and exploit religious differences in order to create chaos and make Nigeria ungovernable,” Sherman said.

She further explained that the US knows from experience the immense difficulty in confronting an enemy that respects no boundaries and kills civilians indiscriminately.
“Today, I hope that our teams can identify specific areas in the context of regional security where we can deepen our partnership and chart concrete steps forward on those topics on which we are already working together,” she said.

Speaking on the importance of Nigeria to the US, Sherman stated that the US is proud of its strong ties with Nigeria, adding that such strong partnerships endure the test of time between governments and people.

According to her, sustained security efforts are necessary to protect innocent Nigerians, prevent Boko Haram’s acts of violence and capture and prosecute its leaders through a new social compact with Nigerian citizens that encompasses an economic recovery strategy as a complement to the government’s security strategy. 

She said: “The United States and Nigeria have ties to each other at every level.  At some $5 billion, Nigeria is the second largest destination for US private investment in Africa.

“However, one of our strongest connections is even more personal. More than 1.5 million Nigerians and Nigerian-Americans live in the United States and an estimated 31,000 US citizens live in Nigeria.

“Strong partnerships endure the test of time between governments and between people. We are both democracies that continue to evolve to meet the needs of our citizens and respond to the multifaceted and ever-changing dynamics of the international community.

“The US remains committed to working with Nigeria towards securing a future for your country that ensures stability and civilian security and provides for the well-being of all of Nigeria’s people.”

On the new complementary approach to the fight against terrorism in the north, Sherman said: “Nigeria’s success is important to us, and we will continue to invest in Nigeria’s institutions, people, and businesses to both countries’ mutual benefit.

“We also recognise that success cannot be achieved unless Nigeria surmounts the challenges that frustrate progress. It is in this spirit that the US engages today in this working group on Regional Security Cooperation (RSC).

“The Nigerian government and military must also win over the hearts and minds of northern populations by protecting them and providing timely and commensurate justice to both insurgents and the victims of this unfortunate conflict.

“Though no easy task, a comprehensive approach that addresses socio-economic problems, articulates clear rules of engagement, and commits to accountability for those who perpetrate violence, both Boko Haram and security forces, will demonstrate to every Nigerian that their future is brighter in a more secure Nigeria.

“This may require a new social compact with Nigerian citizens that encompasses an economic recovery strategy as a complement to the government’s security strategy.

“This approach will be successful to the extent that it can garner the support of northern governors and local officials, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, and a generation of young Nigerians who are connected to their government, locally and federally.”

Reiterating her country’s resolve to partner Nigeria, the under secretary noted: “Stability, security and prosperity are long-term goals with no easy fixes for any country, but together we can go further than we can alone.

“A visible commitment and demonstrated actions to protect civil liberties and ensure civilian security can go a long way towards rebuilding the trust between a government and its people upon whom our shared well-being depends.

“When government commits itself to progress and meaningful reforms, the people benefit and extremists become marginalised.  By working together, we can contribute to economic growth, democratic progress, and lasting peace.

“These objectives are important to the US, to Nigeria, and to the global community, and I hope that this forum will continue to further our partnership.

“The US has shown commitment in addressing security challenges facing Nigeria especially the Boko Haram insurgency which has created widespread insecurity across northern parts of the country, increased tensions between various ethnic communities, and has interrupted development in the region.”

The diplomat also observed that the ninth Binational Commission meeting reflects the strong partnership between both countries to ensure regional stability and economic growth with consideration for Nigeria’s growth potential as Africa’s largest economy.

“Nigeria’s prosperity and stability reverberate in the region and across Africa.  And it is Nigerian business people and traders who make up the most influential populations of non-citizens in most West African countries.

“This nation’s leadership has helped resolve major political and security crises in West Africa, from the Liberian and Sierra Leone crises in the 1990s to the more recent political problems in Guinea, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali, and your vital contribution to peacekeeping operations worldwide has served as a model and an anchor in a region that will face critical challenges in the years ahead,” Sherman stated.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, in his remarks, explained that the meeting was to address the emerging common and severe threat, as well as proffer strategies to improve security cooperation by examining ways to strengthen relations and ongoing efforts between both countries.

Uhomoibhi said: “The regional security cooperation working group should be an established platform to strengthen the capacity of our security agencies to counter-extremism.

“We are committed to close collaboration on security and other related issues with a sharp focus to bring lasting peace to the country.”