Nigeria to declare the Boko Haram sect as a terrorist
organisationthat must be dismantled.
This is coming as the federal government is seeking the cooperation
and assistance of international communities, especially friendly
countries to criminalise crude oil theft and companies patronising it.
The British Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr. Andrew
Morrison, declared this Tuesday, when he visited the Minister of State
for Defence, Mrs. Olusola Obada, to seek ways of cooperation and
partnership.
Morrison expressed the concern of UK over the security situation in
Nigeria and assured that they would help in any way to secure the
territorial integrity of the country.
He said proscription of the Boko Haram sect was in order and that the
UK was in support of the Federal Government, which recently
designated the group as a terrorist organisation.
He said: "We will discuss how we can do things together in the
uncertain world we live. Nigeria has always been close to the UK but
at the moment like this, our concern will be to help Nigeria to ensure
that the territorial integrity is protected. We are very conscious
that in our world today, we need to do things together in the sense
that your security is our security.
"You have issues of Boko Haram and have proscribed them. That's what
informed our decision to proscribe that organisation, which follows
the decision of the Nigerian government (to designate the group a
terrorist body)".
"We also share your concern for human rights (in dealing with
insurgency), which is clear that part of that solution involves
respect for human rights. We want to therefore make sure that we will
be ofassistance in that respect so that we can maintain that journey
(for peace and security) together," he said.
"So, let us move forward as partners and friends in this uncertain
world. Let us do things more and more together. We are ready to be of
assistance in any way, the minister (Obada) in whatever area you felt
that will be appropriate and helpful".
Responding, Obada thanked the UK government for designating Boko Haram
as a terrorist organisation and as well as its readinessto assist
Nigeria in the area of security.
She also assured that Nigerian troops were being professional in
prosecuting their operation against the insurgents by observing strict
adherence to the Rules of Engagement (RoE).
"...we sought your opinion on how UK can help to ameliorate our situation...
"We want to also thank you for proscribing Boko Haram, which is
aterrorist group that has been troubling the country", she said.
"However, I want to tell you that things have improved and we havemade
significant progress since the declaration of the State of Emergency.
Life is returning to normal and the insurgents have fled",she added.
In a related development, Obada sought the help of the UK and other
countries of the world in curbing the embarrassing case of crude oil
theft, which she admitted, was hurting the Nigerian economy.
In the same vein, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa'ad
Ibrahim, disclosed the correlation between the rising crude oiltheft
and weapons proliferation in the country.
Ibrahim described the situation as "worrisome", while comparing
oiltheft to the "blood diamonds" situation in Liberia and Sierra
Leone.
Meanwhile, the federal government has reiterated its commitment to
sustaining and improving the current national security capabilities in
the country so in order to confront the security challenges in the
country.
President Goodluck Jonathan urged security operatives to buckle upin
the task of dismantling terrorism in the country.
He handed down the challenge yesterday while commissioning a foreign
language institute at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), in
Abuja.
The president, who used the occasion to inaugurate the study of some
foreign languages in the institution, said: "Language proficiencyis an
essential tool of your vocation. It opens doors and builds bridges
across cultures and facilitate your work. I am therefore delighted
with the vision that has led to the establishment of functionalforeign
language institute for the agency. Please ensure that you make the
best use of this facility."
"I always believe that for you to be fully educated you are supposedto
be bi-lingual. Language is tool that most people don't understand.
Communication is key for intelligence services. NIA must emphasisethat
before you get to some level you must be bi-lingual."
Describing the job of the intelligence operatives as a 'delicate and
vital work', Jonathan said: "As the eyes and ears of our nation
youmust always maintain your total vigilance and agility. You must
constantly improve the technical efficiency and overall quality of all
operatives."
He assured that government will "continue to do all in its power to
sustain and improve on our national security capability to enable
confront the challenges of the 21st century."
He stressed "only dedicated and truly professional intelligence
officers can rise up to the threats that the country must deal with on
daily basis.
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