John Campbell warned that Boko Haram has not been defeated
– The former US ambassador to Nigeria said the division within the sect could trigger attacks in Lagos, Kano
– He said the groups could even attack beyond Nigeria
John Campbell has warned that a splinter group within the Boko Haram sect may lead to severe attack in Kano and Lagos.
The former United States ambassador to Nigeria noted that although the terrorists seem to have two factions with one led by the long-time leader, Abubakar Shekau and the other recognised by ISIS, Abu Musab, al-Barnawi, they may likely regroup and attack further than the north east
The Punch reports that the former diplomat insisted that the division within Boko Haram may not stop it from conducting violent attacks.
“It should be anticipated that attacks on government and Western facilities will continue but not necessarily centred in the North-East. Instead, the two factions are likely to carry out attacks further afield, in Kano, possibly Lagos, and almost certainly in Cameroon and Niger. There may well be greater cooperation with the various criminal networks that are active across the Sahel.
“The paradox is that a splintered Boko Haram with rival leaders may pose less of a threat to the Nigerian state in the short term but a greater one to the broader region and to Western individuals and interests. Up to now, (Abubakar) Shekau’s ties to the Islamic State do not appear to have been operationally significant, while al-Barnawi’s link with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb appears to have been limited to specific operations. That could change in the future.”
Campbell said that if a faction of Boko Haram falls under “operational control of Islamic State or AQIM,” there may be attacks beyond Nigeria “or even the Sahel.”
This would likely affect the US interest which he noted are centred around Lagos and the South-South.
“Kidnapping has been an Ansaru specialty in the past, often in cooperation with jihadist or criminal groups based elsewhere in the Sahel. Kidnapping of Westerners, highly lucrative, may also spike with Ansaru’s re-emergence.”
The former US ambassador to Nigeria said the leadership battle between Shekau and Al-Barnawi indicated that the terrorists were not defeated yet.



https://www.naij.com/945343-tension-boko-haram-attack-lagos-kano-us-diplomat-issues-warning.html

Ohh, I made it

FTC