Nigeria: Foreign Affairs Ministry Silent On Boko Haram’s External Link

Daily Independent (Lagos)

Kemi Yesufu

24 June 2011

Abuja — The Foreign Affairs Ministry has continued to keep sealed lips over its reaction to allegations of foreign membership of the Jama’atu Ahliss-Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram.

There have been speculations that Boko Haram, a group of Islamic fundamentalists opposed to western education, had its members trained in war-torn Somalia and that it also has membership from the Niger Republic.

In a chat with Saturday Independent, spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Damian Agu, explained that actions taken by his ministry need not be made public.

According to him, diplomatic interventions are executed with utmost discretion, adding that it was unnecessary for the ministry to make public the steps taken to ensure that only visitors with good intentions are allowed into the country.

On the speculation that Nigerian embassies in charge of countries with terrorist cells have been written to be strict on granting visas, he said he was not aware of instructions for stringent visa regime, though he added that the ministry “is full of specialists to take the right steps in this or any kind of situation”.

He said, “What I can tell you is that the ministry is alert to its responsibilities. But issues of importance like state security are handled in diplomatic circles without it being made public”.

Agu assured that the ministry is closely watching the happenings around the Boko Haram sect, though he argued that there is yet to be concrete evidence that the sect had foreign membership or that foreigners had participated in some of its attacks.

“The talk remains in the realm of speculation as there has not been concrete evidence to prove that they (Boko Haram) have membership from outside,” he said.

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