H.E. Mr. Felix Yusufu Pwol:

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Let me at the outset express my profound appreciation to the Chair and other members of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade for the invitation extended to me to brief this august body on recent developments regarding the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
This briefing session organised by the committee is a clear indication of the concern and empathy the Government and people of Ireland have towards the Government and people of Nigeria over the security challenges affecting the country in recent years, especially as they concern the incessant unleashing of terror by the Boko Haram insurgency group.
On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, may I also express my deepest thanks to many individuals, associations and schoolchildren in Ireland who have in strong terms condemned the abduction of the over 270 schoolchildren in Chibok, Borno state? The embassy has received numerous letters from Irish citizens expressing grave concern over the fate of the abducted schoolgirls. We certainly appreciate this gesture.
I will now explain the background for the distinguished parliamentarians here. The emergence of the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria is a fairly recent development dating back to the year 2009. Since then, it has metamorphosed into a local insurgency. The sect was officially known as Jamaa'tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'wati Wai Jihad, which in English means "peoplecommitted tothe propagation of the Prophet's teachings and jihad".
The words Boko Haram literally mean western or non-Islamic education is prohibited. The group is strongly opposed to all democratic institutions and principles. The insurgency is a declaration of war on the Government and people of Nigeria. It is understood that the group's ultimate objective is to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.
In carrying out its destructive acts, the group has, since 2009, unleashed mayhem by launching a vicious guerrilla-style campaign against defenceless people, government infrastructure and installations, places of worship, schools, villages and communities.
The Boko Haram insurgency has so far claimed over 12,000 lives with more than 8,000 persons injured or maimed. The insurgency has also displaced thousands of innocent Nigerians, especially in the border communities, and has destroyed properties worth billions of naira.
As members of the joint committee are aware, on 14 April 2014, the Boko Haram insurgents abducted over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok secondary school in Borno state. This followed the slaughter of some 40 schoolchildren in the Government secondary school Banu, in Yobe state. These two incidents, including the Nyanya, Abuja bombings in April and May 2014, represent the most vicious and callous attack of terror and violence by Boko Haram bandits in recent times. It is therefore obvious that this terror group has destroyed social life in the north-eastern part of Nigeria and has crippled economic activities in the area.
Let me make it categorically clear that the insurgency is certainly not a religious war, as both Christians and Muslims have been killed and have had their places of worship destroyed. It has also emerged that the group has links with other terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and al-Shabab. The group has hideouts and camps in neighbouring countries, namely, Chad, Cameroon and the Niger Republic. Boko Haram's war is not only against the Nigerian Government and people but constitutes a threat to regional peace and security.
I will now outline the Government efforts involved. In its efforts to stem the situation, the Government declared a state of emergency on 15 May 2013 in three north-eastern states, namely, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. The state of emergency has been renewed twice since then and there are plans to extend it further until the situation improves in these states. The matter is currently before our Parliament, the National Assembly. The President has sent a fresh request for renewal of the mandate.
Members of the joint committee may also be aware that a new division of the Nigerian army, the 7th mechanised division, has been established in Maiduguri, Borno state.

The Government has adopted a multi-track strategy to contain the insurgency which includes dialogue, engagement, empowerment, education and re-orientation. It will be recalled that the presidential committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the north, headed by Mr. Kabiru T. Turaki, the Minister for Special Duties, has submitted its report which is currently being considered for implementation. The acceptance of the request for assistance from the USA, France, Britain, Israel, China and Spain is evidence of the Government's resolve to secure the release of the abducted children and to also see that the perpetrators of these dastardly acts are brought to justice. The recent classification of Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United Nations Security Council is a welcome development. With this classification, Boko Haram will become liable to the imposition of sanctions with global application. It will also be recalled that the United States of America, Canada and Australia have accorded Boko Haram the same classification.

In the aftermath of the abduction of the girls in Chibok, information management and reporting has been a source of concern to the Government. In this regard, the Government has adopted measures to streamline information management and co-ordination to forestall the misrepresentation of facts to the general public and our international partners. The recently concluded special summit of security on Nigeria hosted by the President of France, François Hollande, was attended by the Presidents of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger as well as representatives of the UK, USA and EU. The outcome of the conference has further renewed the commitment of all stakeholders to this crisis. The major highlights of the decisions at the conference include: information sharing among countries in the region; co-ordinated action for the urgent rescue of the abducted girls with the active support and co-operation of all the countries participating in the summit; regional co-operation and the establishment of joint border patrols with the four neighbouring states; the establishment of mechanisms for information exchange on trafficking of weapons; bolstering of measures to secure weapons stockpiles; and the implementation of co-ordinated patrols with the aim of combatting Boko Haram and locating the missing schoolgirls.

As I conclude my brief statement, I express again my thanks for the support and solidarity Nigeria continues to enjoy from the Government and people of Ireland. I underscore the fact that my Government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the current insurgency is brought to an end in the not-too-distant future. I thank the distinguished parliamentarians for their kind attention.