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Friday, 16 May 2014

U.S. slams Nigerian government’s response to Boko Haram


Despite Nigeria’s failing in dealing with Boko Haram, the United States says it will now team up against the group
The United States on Thursday issued a scathing rebuke of the Nigerian government’s failure to curb the extremist sect, Boko Haram, responsible for thousands of deaths, as President Goodluck Jonathan announced he will attend an inter-regional security summit in France to discuss the threat.
A top U.S. Defense Department official told the U.S. Senate subcommittee that Nigeria was too slow to find a response to the threat of Boko Haram, but said the United States is now committed to helping fight the al Qaeda-linked group and safely return over 250 school girls seized from Chibok, Borno State, a month ago.
“In general Nigeria has failed to mount an effective campaign against Boko Haram,” said Alice Friend, the Pentagon’s principal director for African Affairs, according to Reuters news agency.
Ms. Friend gave testimony to the U.S. Senate’s Africa subcommittee ahead of a hearing Thursday.

“The Department has been deeply concerned for some time by how much the Government of Nigeria has struggled to keep pace with Boko Haram’s growing capabilities,” Ms. Friend said. She also condemned the spate of abuses by Nigerian security forces in the fight against Boko Haram.

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