Boko Haram*, the notorious Nigeria-based Islamic jihadist militant organisation
Boko Haram*, the notorious Nigeria-based Islamic jihadist militant organisation, will be formally designated as a "foreign terrorist organization" by the United States Departmentof State*.The U.S. law enforcement and regulatory agencies will be directed to block any business and financial transactions with the sect. Providing "material support" to the group will be considered a crime.Although the U.S. State Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the news were officially confirmed by congressional sources and other persons briefed on the matter.The United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs has reportedly scheduled a hearing on the Boko Haram group on Wednesday.U.S. lawmakers and security officials are concerned over the growing relationship between Boko Haram and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. They say the sect is "of growing influence and of major concern".Top U.S. security official have been arguing that Boko Haram had met the criteria to be listed as a "foreign terrorist" group because it"either engages in terrorism that threatens theUnited States or has a capability or intent to doso".Although the U.S. State Department later designated three alleged Boko Haram leaders as terrorists, it stopped short of a more sweeping declaration against the organization.Naij note:*The United States Department of State (the State Department, or DoS), is the federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministry of other countries.*The Congregation of the People of Tradition for Proselytism and Jihad — better known by its Hausa name Boko Haram, "Western education is sinful" — is an Islamic jihadist militant organisation based in the northeast of Nigeria, north Cameroon, and Niger. Founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2001, the organisation seeks to establish a "pure" Islamic state ruled by sharia law, putting a stop to what it deems"Westernization." The group is known for attacking Christians and government targets, bombing churches, attacking schools and policestations, but has also assassinated members of the Islamic establishment. Violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in an estimated 10,000 deaths between 2001 and 2013 and roughly 3,600 killed, including 1,600 civilians between 2009 and 2013.


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