Insecurity: Jonathan Debunks US Embassy Statement On Nigeria

nigeria-president-goodluckPresident Goodluck Jonathan has said the Boko Haram insurgents have international connections as revealed in court during the trial of some members of the sect.

Jonathan, who was reacting yesterday to a statement by the US Embassy on the current security challenges in Nigeria, said,  “what has been made very clear is the fact that the terrorists we are dealing with are not just local insurgents, they also have international connections  as revealed yesterday in court that they receive funding from certain elements in Algeria.”

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, the President reiterated his administration’s resolve to reduce the population of persons who could be recruited for terrorism through human capital development initiatives.

According toAbati, “the major point in response to this statement by the US Embassy is that thorough investigations are already ongoing with regard to the incidents in Baga, Bama, Nasarawa and other places. President Jonathan is on record as having ordered very thorough probes. He has also encouraged independent investigations by the National Human Rights Commission. In addition, he has had to cut short his trip to South Africa and cancel his planned state visit  to Namibia. He is back in the country to personally oversee the situation.

“Today (yesterday), President Jonathan has hosted an emergency meeting of the National Security Council  where he  received further briefings from security chiefs. Second, President Jonathan has made it very clear that apart from the investigations, where there has been any case of misconduct, the persons involved will be brought to justice. There is no issue, therefore, as to the fact that the government will ensure accountability and the protection of the civilian population from terrorist attacks. Three, it is also not true that the administration is adopting a force-based approach. The approach to the insurgency by the government is not a uni-focal  approach. There are many dimensions to it. One of those dimensions is the consideration of the option of dialogue and what has become known as amnesty.”