Nigerian president vows 'total war' against Boko Haram

Correspondent | Friday May 30, 2014 12:48

 

Speaking on the the 15th anniversary of the end of military rule, he said 'international terrorism' threatened Nigeria's democratic gains.

Boko Haram has waged an increasingly bloody insurgency since 2009 to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

Its fighters killed 42 people during a raid on Gurmushi village in the north-east on Wednesday, a survivor said.

Villagers were shot and hacked to death, and many homes were torched, the female survivor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told BBC Hausa.

Boko Haram has been holding more than 200 schoolgirls captive since last month, demanding a prisoner swap.

Earlier this week, the BBC learned that the government called off a deal to swap some of the girls for Boko Haram fighters in custody.

'With the support of Nigerians, our neighbours and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists,' Mr Jonathan said, in a televised speech to mark Democracy Day.

He added that he was determined to protect Nigeria's democracy.

'I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil,' he said.

Mr Jonathan declared a state of emergency in May 2013, deploying more troops to the three northern states where Boko Haram is most active - Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Boko Haram retaliated by stepping up its bombing campaign in cities and launching mass attacks on small towns and villages.

In a major foreign policy speech on Wednesday, US President Barack Obama said that 'no American security operation can eradicate the threat' posed by Boko Haram.

'That is why we must focus both on rescuing those girls, but also on supporting Nigerian efforts to educate its youth,' he said.

'Indeed, this should be one of the hard-earned lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan, where our military became the strongest advocate for diplomacy and development,' Mr Obama added.

The US, UK, China and France are among those countries to have sent teams of experts and equipment to help to locate the girls.

(BBC)