Boko Haram: Focus on training of security personnel, U.S. tells Nigeria

The U.S. has urged the Federal Government to focus on intensive capacity building for its security agencies to consolidate successes recorded in the fight against Boko Haram insurgence.

President Muhammadu Buhari

The U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said this at a video conference in Abuja.

Thomas-Greenfield said beyond the assistance of the U.S., one of the key areas Nigeria should focus on in its quest to end Boko Haram activities was training its security personnel.

“Certainly, we have consulted closely with the Nigerian government on its approach to dealing with Boko Haram.

“And while they are making some very strong efforts to address this issue, capacity building, I think, is one of the key areas that they need to focus on.

“ And training doesn’t provide an immediate solution to the problem, but for the military and for the other government agencies to be effective, they have to be well trained,” she said.

Thomas-Greenfield said that for the country to bring successes to the efforts of government in the fight, the police have a unique role to play adding that there was the need to go beyond military approach.

“We think it’s a multifaceted approach. It’s not just the military it’s every arm of government; it’s a whole-of-government approach that is required,” she said.

She said that the government needed to do more in working with the police because it was not the military’s job to provide immediate security in villages.

“Once the military kicks Boko Haram out and people try to return to their villages, they need a security service in the form of well-trained policemen who know how to deal with this kind of security,” she said.

She said that the U.S. was working with Nigeria and other West African countries to look at broad economic development in the regions affected by Boko Haram.

“We are encouraging businesses to invest in those areas, and ensuring that those who have been victims of Boko Haram to receive the assistance that they require to rebuild their lives.

“And if I could just say, we support the Nigerian Government’s efforts; we support the efforts of the region. We know that terrorism is not one country’s responsibility; it’s a global responsibility.

“This is a global war, and we all have to work together to support each other to address this threat,” she stated.