LAGOS — After years of diplomatic patchwork and foot-dragging, the United States, yesterday, formally declared war on Boko Haram, classifying the Nigerian-based Al Qaeda affiliate, a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The declaration would make Washington mobilize resources and intelligence to combat the ninth deadliest terrorist group in the world.
A statement issued by the US State Department, yesterday, in Washington, said the US government was invoking Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224 to designate Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
The Federal Government which had hitherto mounted pressure on the US against taking such action, also issued a statement through Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US to explain why it accepted the US classification of Boko Haram and Ansaru as terrorist groups.
Decision taken November 8, 2013
