Buhari focusing on poverty, fighting corruption, U.S. Says
Army alone won't beat militants, U.S. defense official says

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s focus on combining a military offensive with the fight against poverty and corruption is the right approach in the battle against the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, a senior U.S. defense official said.

“They understand military pressure by itself will not tackle the overall problem and understand the need for a truly integrated approach,” U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda J. Dory said in an interview at the Pentagon in Washington. “This is something the previous Nigerian government said, and had strategy documents to articulate such an approach, but they weren’t actually implementing.”

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President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari beat President Goodluck Jonathan in elections this year after a campaign in which he pledged to end the threat of the insurgents who are trying to carve out an Islamic state in Africa’s biggest economy. He also promised to fight graft and narrow the gap between rich and poor.

The violence, mainly centered in Boko Haram’s stronghold of northeastern Nigeria, has killed thousands of civilians and displaced more than a million since 2009, stunting economic development in one of the country’s poorest regions and forcing schools and markets to close. The insurgency captured international attention in April 2014 when the militants kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok, sparking a social media campaign known as #BringBackOurGirls for their return home. Most remain missing.

U.S. Military
The U.S. announced last month it’s sending as many as 300 non-combat troops to neighboring Cameroon to bolster a regional force that’s fighting Boko Haram, including its intelligence-gathering activities.

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Map: Nigeria and Neighbours

Almost six months into his term, Buhari has relocated the army’s headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri, the epicenter of the insurgency, replaced his top military chiefs and vowed to recover billions of dollars stolen in corruption scandals. Still, his plan to bring change risks being undermined by an economic slump from the low price of oil, the country’s main revenue earner.

“The application of military pressure does not address any of the so-called underlying grievances in an enduring way,” said Dory, who has met Buhari twice since he took office in May. The president visited Washington in July and she was in Nigeria last month.

Multinational Force
The conflict has spilled across the borders, spurring neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger to join a multinational force to battle the militants. The coalition has helped dislodge rebels from some of their positions, although bombings in towns and cities continue.

While Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which rules a self-declared caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq, the U.S. views it as a predominately symbolic gesture, and there’s “limited evidence” to suggest they are actively cooperating, Dory said.

“This type of marriage of convenience is emerging in different contexts, but various strands of extremist organizations in Africa aren’t gathering into any type of coherent mass that is operating for the same purpose,” she said.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-13/u-s-says-buhari-on-right-track-in-battle-against-boko-haram

Sai Baba

gud

Good!! The OP has been absent, what happened to him?

The US foreign policy in the last decade or so has been a total mess, so i wouldn't be surprise with what they do or say this days, it is to be expected, a lil pat on the back of their puppet.

Poverty DOESN'T JUSTIFY ONE MURDER LET ALONE JUSTIFY LEAVING A TRAIL OF DEAD BODIES IN YOUR WAKE!!

So poverty caused IS? Lol! Those guys even boko haram are richer than some of our millionaires in Naija! How else could they be able to acquire expensive artillery? Some of their wretched looking foot soldiers are even found with heavy cash on their bodies or camps!

Boko haram wasn't caused by poverty.... They acting under "divine" instruction.

So abdulmutallab was hungry and jobless when he decided to bomb that plane huh? With his Rich Pop?

Tell us something else jare!

LRNZH:




Theres heavy poverty of mind and pocket in this region. This reason alone provides easy target of youths for BH to brainwash and recruit fighters.

Now this, I agree with!... But what explains the heavy infux of rich dudes into this groups since poverty, lack of sound education and mental strength can easily be ruled out here?

LRNZH:


Those rich supporters are either extremists or people trying to destabilise the region for political or other gains.

Fingers have been pointed at ISIS, CIA or rich Nigeria politicians (think IBB). We may never know for sure who the actual financiers of BH are.

But the people who carry the guns, kidnap/rape little girls and raze villages while setting uo camps in Sambisa forest are definitely not the rich ones.

All I'm saying is Poverty ain't the only cause of terrorism! Infact, it's not even the biggest! When people tend to be so religious, they turn fanatics and after that, extremists. I think The causes of terrorism start with "extremists by default" posing as CLERGYMEN. Get the respect and ears of a chunk of people, And You'll be able to manipulate them in ways that would stun even the devil.

There's a fine line between poverty and ideology!... The 'poverty' reason should be used losely and in less definitive terms!

Even scientists aren't definitive on the actual cause of Cancer but you'll agree with me that terrorism is like cancer!...

We just might be on our way to redemption after all.
More strength to the soldiers!

I've always maintained that boko haram dies the minute the government becomes serious about wanting to flush them.

I pray in all sincerity, that this government has.

People have suffered unduly as a result...

The sacrifices have been ultimate; in emotions, lives and properties.

To those who may have suffered directly or indirectly, may the Lord grant you the strength to carry on!

It is well!

Well,Buhari has tried in combating the Boko Haram menace and the December deadline might just be feasible. If Jonathan had combated this issue with the same verve as Buhari, the issue might not have been blown to such proportions. I can still remember Buhari's first directive as a president had to do with combating d menace and how his first 3 or 4 official trips were all centered on securing regional and international cooperation to tackle the insurgency. On a scale of 10, I'll rate Buhari 7 on the fight against Boko Haram. This is my opinion. U might not agree with it but abeg don't insult me.

One thing is for sure. The era where Boko Haram captured territory from Nigeria troops is over.
Buhari's dogged dedication is the major factor at work here.

Lalasticlala... Abeg do justice