Nigeria not doing enough to tackle terrorism -US report

THE United States on Thursday released its Country Reports on Terrorism 2012, expressing concern over Nigeria’s “poor monitoring of non-profit organisations to prevent misuse and terrorist financing.”
It also expressed its worry over the emergence of the Boko Haram faction known as ‘Ansaru’, which it said has close ties to the Al Qaeda In the Magreb (AQIM) “and has prioritised targeting Westerners – including Americans – in Nigeria.”
According to the reports, officials of the United States last December met with government officials on how Washington could help Nigeria to tackle terrorism.
“In November, the Nigerian government formally requested assistance from the United States to develop an intelligence fusion centre that would be able to streamline coordination and information sharing on counterterrorism matters among key agencies, including the State Security Service (SSS), the intelligence agencies, the national police, and the military.
“An inaugural working group to develop Nigeria’s intelligence fusion capability, composed of embassy officials and staff of the office of the National Security Adviser, met on December 15 to determine how the United States can best support this initiative.”
The reports frowned on delays in freezing suspicious bank accounts that could be used for terrorist activities due to bureaucratic bottlenecks. “While Nigeria regularly froze the assets of individuals and entities designated under relevant UNSCRs, and others designated by the United States under U.S. domestic designation authorities only, delays sometimes occurred.
“All requests to freeze assets must first be sent to the National Security Adviser, who disseminates the information to relevant financial institutions and Nigerian government agencies. Consequently, delays of up to four weeks occasionally occurred before authorities would block assets. Nigeria did not monitor non-profit organisations to prevent misuse and terrorist financing.”
According to the reports, the U.S. has also provided counter-terrorism materials to Nigeria’s northern neighbour, Niger, in order to tackle Boko Haram and AQIM.
“The presence of the violent extremist group Boko Haram in northern Nigeria, just across Niger’s southern border, posed a threat – Boko Haram members have been arrested inside Niger. The government of Niger is committed to fighting AQIM and BH, but needs and welcomes external support and greater regional cooperation. The United States significantly increased its counterterrorism cooperation with Niger in 2012. U.S. Army personnel executed five separate training events with Nigerien Army forces in Tillia, Arlit, Dirkou, and Diffa. Niger took delivery of base radio stations, personnel protective gear, vehicle fuel, and Global Positioning System devices. In addition, over 150 Nigerien law enforcement and security forces received five Antiterrorism Assistance training courses and other training opportunities. Topics included joint terrorism task force operations, forensics, preventing attacks on soft targets, Critical Response Team Operations, and respect for human rights. Regional Security Initiative and MANPADS funding provided equipment including 4x4 pickup trucks, motorcycles, computers, and other items.”
The reports also indicted the Joint Task Force for using excessive and indiscriminate force, which led to killings of both civilians and Boko Haram suspects. It also thumbed down efforts by the federal government to address grievances in the North which sparked the insurgency in the first place, including high unemployment and a dearth of basic services.
“Most operations to counter Boko Haram were headed up by the military-led Joint Task Force, some members and units of which committed indiscriminate and extrajudicial use of force, including killings of civilians and Boko Haram suspects. The Nigerian government’s efforts to address grievances among Northern populations, which include high unemployment and a dearth of basic services, continued to fail, as did the security forces’ efforts to contain Boko Haram.”
It then called on the Nigerian government to employ “a comprehensive security strategy that is not predicated on the use of force, and that also addresses the economic and political exclusion of vulnerable communities in the North.”