President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 addressed the high level meeting of the United Nations security council, urging them to take more punitive measures to tackle the global threat of terrorism.
In the address, which was made by special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan said the meeting was crucial as it shows the commitment of the United States and the United Nations to fostering international peace, condemning the beheading of two American journalists and a British aid worker by the Islamic State (ISIS) group, saying it typifies the new dimension terrorism has taken in the world, which was characterized by extreme brutality, impunity and executions.
The president said ISIS was not alone in the path to disrupt global peace as al-Qaeda, operating in the Arab Maghreb, Al-Shabaab in Somalia and Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria all have the same goal to terrorize the world, cause mayhem, destruction and general instability around the globe, rebuking in no uncertain terms, the shift from targeted attacks as seen by al-Qaeda to the mobilization of thousands, bent on taking over territory as seen by terror groups in recent times.
President Jonathan also remarked that Nigeria understands what needs to be done as the country has engaged the Boko Haram since 2009 with he sect reportedly killing about thirteen thousand Nigerians, marauding and burning down whole communities and kidnapping hundreds of Nigerians, chief of which is the over two hundred schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno state. He said regardless of the threat posed by the enemy, the Nigerian government and military have battled the Islamist sect head on.
He also added that asides the counter terrorism efforts by his government, initiatives have also been put in place to lessen the burden of those who were affected by those affected by the actions of the terrorists. He highlighted the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), directed at providing relief and immediate infrastructural re-development as well as the de-radicalization of persons likely to be recruited by the terror group. he also disclosed the launching of the Victims Support Fund, whic has successfully raised about $500 million out of an expected $1 billion to be used in directly supporting victims of terror attacks, not forgetting the Safe Schools Initiative spearheaded by the former prime Minister of Britain, Gordon Brown, who presently holds he office of UN special envoy for global education.
President Jonathan went ahead to show appreciation to President Barrack Obama and the American government for the initiative propounded at the US-Africa summit in August 2014, stating his confidence that if carried out to the letter, security in Africa will be water-tight.
He further urged the council’s leadership to follow up on the determination of the security council in seeking innovative responses to the global terror threat, especially the thriving trend of foreign fighters, telling the council to be mindful of the sources where terrorists get their arms and funds, using Boko Haram who are said to be funded and armed from without Nigeria.
The President further enthused that all commitment must be made by the international community to support all countries faced with the threat of terrorism, adding that only oneness in action and firmness can bring a halt terrorism poses to humanity and set up structures to forestall its re-emergence.
