Why Boko Haram is not terrorist group – US

The United States government has explained why it could not classify Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) as demanded by some Nigerians.

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, said the Islamist insurgent group is not classified as terrorist organisation because only three of its topmost leaders have what he called “broad jihadist agenda and network of connections with the al-Qaeda.”

Carson was speaking during a world press conference via satellite tagged “Virtual Press Briefing on the Presidential Policy Direction of the US Policy Strategy Towards Sub-Saharan Africa,” yesterday.

He said the insurgents are only interested in destabilising the government of Goodluck Jonathan and present it as ineffective and weak.

“Boko Haram is a major concern to Nigeria and her neighbours. The bulk of Boko Haram members are bent on discrediting the government of President Goodluck Jonathan and portray it as ineffective and preoccupy it with national disaffection.

“They are not engaged in external spreading of terrorism, hence their preoccupation with internal insurrection,” he said.

Only three of the Boko Haram sect top leaders were classified by the US as terrorists in a recent pronouncement prompting outrage among the Nigerian citizens particularly the Christian community, which has largely borne the brunt of incessant attacks by the sect. They demand that the entire group be classified as FTO to enable the US get more involved in tackling their deadly activities.

Leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who addressed a section of the US Congress, early this year asked President Obama to declare Boko Haram, a terrorist group to stem the increasing attacks of the insurgent group on Nigerians.

Boko Haram has killed scores of people in suicide and coordinated gun attacks since the insurgents began multiple attacks on security agencies, individuals and religious groups in 2009.