Boko Haram received training within and outside Africa – Defence Minister

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali has stated that Boko Haram received training from larger terrorist networks within, outside Africa.According to the Defence Minister who presented a paper on regional security at the 8th conference on international security in Moscow, Russia, Boko Haram terrorists  have killed many innocent citizens.

However much of their network has been destabilized by sustained counter-insurgency operations by Nigeria and other countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

He said:

 

“There is the worrisome rise in terrorism and insurgency on the African continent with specific reference to the Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin countries, Al-Shabaab in Somalia and Kenya, and the Islamic State in Mali. Since 2009, Nigeria has been combating terrorism engendered by the Islamic sect called Boko Haram.

“…The economic and developmental progress made by Africa is threatened by setbacks owing to traditional security concerns such as insurgency, armed conflicts, food insecurity, migration, economic crisis and political instability.

“Perhaps a greater security concern for the African region is the emergence of new security issues such as terrorism, militancy, piracy, cultism, political and electoral violence. Others are the growing youth involvement in substance and drug abuse, refugees and Internally Displaced Persons situation occasioned by conflicts, unemployment and poverty.”