BOKO HARAM WILL BE DEFEATED - US GOVT

The United States government has said that Boko Haram will be defeated
in Nigeria just as it said that it remained concerned about the
security situation in the country. The US added that it would continue
to provide necessary supports for the Nigerian government to conquer
the people behind the insecurity in the country.
Speaking during a press briefing with journalists at the Department of
State in Washington, DC yesterday, spokesperson of the White House Ms.
Marie Harf, Deputy said that the United States government would not
relent in its efforts to ensure that terrorism was eradicated in
Nigeria.
Asked why the United States preferred to assist Nigeria to tackle Boko
Haram and abandoned Mali when both countries are facing the same
security challenge, Ms. Harf said: "Well, actually, I think it's
really comparing apples and oranges here, right? Because, as you know,
the assistance was cut off to Mali as the result of a specific
political situation in the country, that we ended assistance in
response to a very specific situation.
"Look, in Nigeria, obviously, we remain deeply committed to helping
the Nigerian Government in its fight against Boko Haram. We remain
very concerned about ongoing attacks in Nigeria being perpetrated by
Boko Haram, and we will continue discussing with Nigerian authorities
appropriate steps to counter this group. We will work with the
government and we are sure that Boko Haram will be defeated.
"Obviously, if we have issues with reports of things that they're
doing, we will raise those as well. So I think they're very different
situations, but clearly, we are committed to countering the extremist
threat wherever it operates around the world"
Just two days ago, the United States and the United Nations had
condemned the attack that was made on some students of the College of
Agriculture at Gujba local government area of Yobe State on Sunday.
Jen Psaki, a Department of State Spokesperson, who reacted on behalf
of the US government said that the United States stood with all
Nigerians to reject the heinous violence that continues to be
perpetrated by Boko Haram and other extremist groups.
The official continued that those attacks on innocent civilians had no
place in a democratic society. He stressed that : "Following last
week's heinous attack in Benisheikh, where more than 160 people were
shot and slaughtered, this weekend's attacks in Yobe state took the
lives of more than fifty innocent students and civilians. Our thoughts
and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who lost
their lives in these senseless acts of violence".
She also urged the government of Nigeria to work together with the
families of the victims and affected communities to find and bring
those responsible for this deplorable violence to justice, and to
enhance the protection of civilians to ensure respect for the rule of
law.
In his swift reaction,the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban
Ki-moon, strongly condemned the murder of more than 40 students and
the wounding of several others by gunmen at an agricultural college in
Yobe state.