[size=14pt]UN report says Nigeria militants strike fear across Africa[/size]
Boko Haram militants from Nigeria are bolstering links with Al-Qaeda and other hardline groups in West Africa, according to a UN report released Wednesday which highlighted the growing concerns of the region's governments.

[img]http://www.businesslive.co.za/africa/2012/01/26/boko-haram-emir-abubakar-shekau.jpg/RESIZED/Small/Boko+Haram+emir+Abubakar+Shekau.JPG[/img]
Boko Haram emir Abubakar Shekau makes his first major video appearance in a new video address entitled, "A Message to President Goodluck Jonathan", in this still image taken from video recorded in an unknown location, received by Reuters January 11, 2012. REUTERS/IntelCenter/Handout

Attacks, detentions of accused militants, seizures of explosives and arms - many smuggled out of Libya - have all added to the worries of Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and their neighbors, according to a UN mission which went to the Sahel region to report on security fallout after the downfall of Moamer Kadhafi.

Fears of terrorism and poor security dominated concerns raised. The UN report said Niger had increased its defense budget by 65 percent and reduced health and education spending because of the threat.

Governments reaffirmed suspicions that weapons accumulated by Kadhafi had been smuggled into other countries by former Libyan soldiers and mercenaries.

The report said Niger authorities recently intercepted a convoy carrying 645 kilograms (1,420 pounds) of Semtex plastic explosive and 445 detonators. Niger authorities "alleged that the explosives were meant for Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb camps in northern Mali.

"This seizure may indicate that terrorist groups have been acquiring arms, weapons and explosives from Libyan military stockpiles."

"Some of the weapons may be hidden in the desert and could be sold to terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Boko Haram or other criminal organizations," said the group, which was led by the UN representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit.

The mission said Boko Haram, blamed for 185 deaths in the Nigerian city of Kano last weekend, a suicide bomb strike against the UN headquarters in Abuja last August and countless other attacks, was considered a growing threat outside Nigeria.

"Its presence was mentioned as a source of concern by most countries in the region." In Niger, "the radicalization of youth was a particular concern in the south, where interlocutors said that Boko Haram was already active in spreading its ideology and propaganda and, in some cases, had succeeded in closing down public schools," said the report.

"The mission representatives were also informed that Boko Haram had established links with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and that some of its members from Nigeria and Chad had received training in Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb camps in Mali during the summer of 2011."

Seven Boko Haram members were detained going through Niger to Mali carrying material on making explosives and contact details of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb members they were to meet, said the UN mission.

Ministers from Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Algeria met in the Mauritania capital, Nouakchott, this week in a bid to strengthen cooperation.

The deteriorating security has already hit humanitarian efforts in Sahel countries. Aid agencies have suspended immunization and food programs for many "vulnerable communities," the UN report said.

In some areas "the humanitarian vacuum is being filled by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and/or criminal elements who are reportedly providing services and humanitarian assistance in remote areas where state presence is reduced or non-existent," said the report.

This helps Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb to recruit followers and form networks to gather information and arms, said the UN.

http://www.businesslive.co.za/africa/2012/01/26/un-report-says-nigeria-militants-strike-fear-across-africa

Thanks for this report

Hmm.
Al Qaeda relocating from Asia to Africa?

This is just terrible. When people were jubilating over the war against ghadaffi i was really worried over who would be in charge after he was removed and most important - the effects of the conflict on the rest of west africa, especially libya's neighbours. The conflicts in liberia and sierra leone brought the first major wave of arms (mainly small arms) into nigeria. We need to work on our borders o!

oh well, I can hear the Drones overhead in Nothern Nigeria.

If a small and poor country like Niger can detect and intercept terrorists,  i wonder what is wrong with Naija security agencies.

johnie:

God is on our side

Gradually Nigeria i becoming a terrorist state in africa and the world as a whole under the clueless GEJ administration. May God have mercy and help us.

I'm tired of all these talk talk. suffering and smiling nigerians. what should we do? nor be to remove gaffeluck jonathan? the incompetent corrupt laden stooge? remove jonathan first and no.1 problem is solved. abi una nor know?

ok let keep rolling pikin wensay e mama nor go sleep nor go also sleep, boko haram think say na so e be animals.

thank God Nigeria is now getting enough fame courtesy of Boko Haram. mtcheew, nonesense!

This Week in Nigeria: Inspector-General of Police RESIGNS!!, Scores of Boko Haram suspects arrested, Fuel Importers summoned by EFCC & much more!!

http://thinkafricapress.com/nigeria/blog/week-nigeria-police-chief-resigns

http://thinkafricapress.com/nigeria/blog/week-nigeria-police-chief-resigns

[size=28pt]BOKO HARAM IS AN INSTRUMENT OF DISINTEGRATION, NIGERIA ACT NOW, SNC OR BREAK UP BY FIRE BY FORCE[/size]

Good info  war on terrorist has now move from Arab countries to west African countries.

diluminati:

I'm tired of all these talk talk. suffering and smiling nigerians. what should we do? nor be to remove gaffeluck jonathan? the incompetent corrupt laden stooge? remove jonathan first and no.1 problem is solved. abi una nor know?

Yea, we know you and your people do not want him there which was why you promised to make Nigeria ungovernable for him. What you were unable to achieve through the ballot box want to achieve through violence like you have always done. E no go work. We will rule you.

UN Report is the GOSPEL TRUTH FOR NIGERIANS "SMH"

Other african countries dont even know who Boko Haram is!!!!

Just like Nigerian dont know what so called "Militants exist in other african countries" are!!!

Other africans being scared of Boko Haram is Rubbish!!! they dont give a dammm!!!!

Religion is a dangerous weapon to handle because it can get out of control.northern nigerian politicains have brought this upon nigeria and west africa.They have in the last 65years used religion to subjugate and manipulate their populace and also as a political weapon against other parts of Nigeria.No other regions in nigeria never used religion for political emancipation e-g south east during the Biafra struggle and southwest during the june 12 struggle.During the Obasanjo regime sharia was introduced to fight back and now boko haram have been empowered to strike.The sharia missile backfired and they lost the middlebelt,This boko haram may wipe out the whole core north sooner or later

Thats the worst thing that any sane person should accomodate, F-E-A-R. It is the vehicle that actually makes evil to manifest itself. OBSERVE your CAT, It is difficult to surprise him. Why? Naturally his superior hearing is part of the answer, but not all of it. He moves well, using his senses fully. He is not preoccupied with irrelevancies. He's not thinking about his job or his image or beating around wasting his energy on futile protestations. He is putting first things first, principally his PHYSICAL SECURITY. Stop fooling around; DO LIKEWISE!!!!. Anyone who is aware of his environment knows that the peril of physical assault does exist, and that it exists everywhere and at all times. It is true that a victim who fights back may suffer for it, but one who does not ALMOST CERTAINLY will suffer for it. Any man who is a man may not, in honor, submit to threats or violence. But many men who are not cowards are SIMPLY UNPREPARED for the fact of HUMAN SAVAGERY. The essential thing is to bear always in mind that trouble can appear at any time. If a FELON attacks you and lives, he will reasonably conclude THAT HE CAN DO IT AGAIN. By submitting to him, you not only imperil your own life, but you jeopardize the lives of others. The criminal does not expect his prey to fight back. May he never CHOOSE YOU, but, if he foolishly does, SURPRISE HIM and let that be his dying Regret. Think again, the truth is your SECURITY is primarily up to you b4 Any others Therefore, Be AWARE!!!. Be READY!!!! Be ALERT!!!!!!. Anyone who willfully and maliciously attacks another without sufficient cause save that he wants to promote his religious cause deserves no consideration. The way to reason with a TERRORIST is to make it aware that HE can live in a cage, or it can die, but it can no longer prey upon us. When we talk about caging a terrorist, it is not about the phoney detention centres we have for the Jihadist that allows them to escape at will, The government actually is totally sluggish, by letting terrorist enjoy such confidence that even when they are detained, their members can come and bomb the stations and free them. all terror suspects should be taken to an unknown destination in maximum security prison, the type that will strike fear in their hearts when caught. It is high time for society to stop worrying about the criminal, and to let the criminal start worrying about the society and what it can do. The religious fanatic who practices terrorism CANNOT be reasoned with, because there is nothing you can threaten him with, and no alternative you can offer him that is more palatable than his genuine belief that if he dies fighting you, he will be greatly rewarded in afterlife. Only swift and extreme force can stop him. If a Brute felon attacks you and lives, he will reasonably conclude that he can do it again. By submitting to him, you not only imperil the life of its present victims, but you jeopardize the lives of others in the near future.

Thats the worst thing that any sane person should accomodate, F-E-A-R. It is the vehicle that actually makes evil to manifest itself MORE. OBSERVE your CAT, It is difficult to surprise him. Why? Naturally his superior hearing is part of the answer, but not all of it. He moves well, using his senses fully. He is not preoccupied with irrelevancies. He's not thinking about his job or his image or beating around wasting his energy on futile protestations. He is putting first things first, principally his PHYSICAL SECURITY. Stop fooling around; DO LIKEWISE!!!!. Anyone who is aware of his environment knows that the peril of physical assault does exist, and that it exists everywhere and at all times. It is true that a victim who fights back may suffer for it, but one who does not ALMOST CERTAINLY will suffer for it. Any man who is a man may not, in honor, submit to threats or violence. But many men who are not cowards are SIMPLY UNPREPARED for the fact of HUMAN SAVAGERY. The essential thing is to bear always in mind that trouble can appear at any time. If a FELON attacks you and lives, he will reasonably conclude[b] THAT HE CAN DO IT AGAIN.[/b] By submitting to him, you not only imperil your own life, but you jeopardize the lives of others. The criminal does not expect his prey to fight back. Thats what the Government should do or else arm its citizens. Such that he never CHOOSE YOU to terrorize his hapless and defenceless victims, but, if he foolishly does that to you, SURPRISE HIM and let that be his dying Regret. Think again, the truth is your SECURITY [/b]is primarily up to you b4 Any others Therefore, [b]Be armed, Be AWARE!!!. Be READY!!!! Be ALERT!!!!!!. Anyone who willfully and maliciously attacks another without sufficient cause save that he wants to promote his religious cause deserves no consideration. The way to reason with a TERRORIST is to make it aware that IT can live in a cage, or it can die, but it can no longer prey upon us. When we talk about caging a terrorist, it is not about the phoney detention centres we have for the Jihadist that allows them to escape at will, The government actually is totally sluggish, by letting terrorist enjoy such confidence that even when they are detained, their members can come and bomb the stations and free them. all terror suspects should be taken to an unknown destination in maximum security prison, the type that will strike fear in their hearts when caught. It is high time for society to stop worrying about the criminal, and to let the criminal start worrying about the society and what it can do. The religious fanatic who practices terrorism CANNOT be reasoned with, because there is nothing you can threaten him with, and no alternative you can offer him that is more palatable than his genuine belief that if he dies fighting you, he will be greatly rewarded in afterlife. Only swift and extreme force can stop him. If a Brute felon attacks you and lives, he will reasonably conclude that he can do it again. By submitting to him, you not only imperil the life of its present victims, but you jeopardize the lives of others in the near future.

Oh the horror

The UN report said Niger had increased its defense budget by 65 percent and reduced health and education spending because of the threat

Abeg, Yinmu!

Boko Haram or not, Our silly leaders have always shortchanged Spending on Education and Health.

In Nigeria, They'll rather feed  their cronies ( mainly Retired Military big men) with Million Dollar Defence contracts than educate our children.

Massive Education will eradicate Boko Haram faster than an Atomic Weapon. Ask UAE, Qatar and co.

This is another silly and incomplete report filled with unnecessary justifications for the Looters of Nigeria. Good governance will eradicate Boko haram.

I agree, totally with dr stone.