Boko Haram 'may threaten other nations'
2013-01-24 07:43
Lagos - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said Wednesday
that Islamist extremist group Boko Haram would pose a threat to other African
nations if not contained, while also pledging support for Mali.
Jonathan, speaking in an interview with CNN, however did not
offer details while denying the Boko Haram insurgency was spurred by deep poverty
in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north and refuting widespread reports of major
military abuses.
"Boko Haram, if it is not contained, it would be a
threat not only to Nigeria, but to west Africa, central Africa and of course to
north Africa," he said from Davos, where he was attending the World
Economic Forum.
He mentioned Boko Haram members travelling to "link
up" with members of al-Qaeda's north African branch operating in northern
Mali and other north African nations.
"That is why the Nigerian government is totally
committed to work with other nationals, other friendly governments, to make
sure that we contain the problems in Mali," Jonathan said.
Nigeria has pledged to send 900 troops to Mali and is to
command an African force being deployed there.
Asked whether misrule and corruption were helping feed the
violence blamed on Boko Haram in Nigeria, Jonathan firmly denied it.
Major abuses
Most Nigerians live on less than $2 per day despite the
country's status as Africa's biggest oil producer, and many have seen the
insurgency as largely in response to conditions in the north, which has been
particularly neglected.
"Boko Haram is a local terror group and we call on the
rest of the world to work with us," said Jonathan.
"Because now we are talking about Algeria, we are
talking about northern Mali, and what I believe is that if we allow terror to
exist in any part of the world, it will not just affect that country or that
state, but it will affect the rest of the globe, and we should not play
politics with Boko Haram."
Nigeria's military has been accused of major abuses in its
fight against Boko Haram, including killings of civilians, the burning of homes
and indiscriminate arrests. Jonathan denied the assertions when asked about
them.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both
issued detailed reports on allegations of major military abuses, among others.
Informed that the US State Department has raised concerns
over the military's actions, Jonathan said US diplomats should seek out the
true story.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation, roughly divided
between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.
- SAPA
