President Goodluck Jonathan has told the United Nations that the Boko Haram insurgents are being funded from outside the country.
The President, who challenged the international community to “act now,” and put a stop to the global menace of terrorism said the deadly sect has killed 13,000 Nigerians in the country’s North-east zone in the past five years.
Mr. Jonathan said these at a high level meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York, United States of America, on Wednesday.
“Nigeria knows too well the destructive effects of terrorist activities. Over the past five years, we have been, and are still confronting threats posed by Boko Haram to peace and stability predominantly in the North Eastern part of our country,” Mr. Jonathan said.
“The costs are high: over 13,000 people have been killed, whole communities razed, and hundreds of persons kidnapped, the most prominent being the mindless kidnap of our innocent daughters from Chibok Secondary School, in North East Nigeria.”
He appreciated the efforts of the United Nation’s leadership for their support in convening the meeting and said that the nigerian government has mobilised resources at its disposal to fight the insurgents.
He said his government has taken steps to ameliorate the plights of the affected communities and listed the steps to include the Presidential Initiative for the North East, Victims Support Fund as well as the Safe Schools Initiative, which is supported by former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.
“We must now capitalize on the commitment and evident determination of the Security Council to seek more innovative responses to the threat of terrorism and in particular to the growing menace of foreign fighters,” Mr. Jonathan said.
“The council should be concerned about the existence of sources of arming and funding terrorists. Evidence has shown that Boko Haram, for instance, is resourced largely from outside our country.
“We must also commit to ensuring that countries which are in the frontline of this challenge, receive adequate support from the international community.
“The Resolution that we have adopted here today is a critical first step in mobilising international action,” he said
He, however, thanked the American President, Barrack Obama, and the US Government for the security governance initiative which was conceived at the US-Africa Summit in August.
“I believe, if expeditiously implemented, the initiative will enhance security on the continent,” Mr. Jonathan said.
“Only by united action and firm resolve can we check this raging threat to humanity, and also build the enduring structures that will resist their re-emergence.
