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US names Boko Haram trio as ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’

The United States today formally declared leader of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, (commonly referred to as Boko Haram), Abubakar Shekau, alongside two of … Continue reading US names Boko Haram trio as ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’


The United States today formally declared leader of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, (commonly referred to as Boko Haram), Abubakar Shekau, alongside two of his lieutenants as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

The US, however did not place the entire radical group on its terrorist list.

According to a statement issued by the US Department of State on Thursday, “Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar, and Khalid al-Barnawi were named ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’ under Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224.

Shekau is the most visible leader of Boko Haram, based in northern Nigeria, Khalid al-Barnawi and Abubakar Adam Kambar have ties to Boko Haram and have close links to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.”

Abubakar Shekau has appeared in a number of videos posted on the internet and social media to affirm the groups demands and claiming responsibility for series of violent attacks.

Under Shekau’s leadership, Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in northern Nigeria, its primary area of operation. In the last 18 months, Boko Haram have killed more than 1,000 people.

“The designation under E.O. 13224 blocks all of Shekau’s, Kambar’s and al-Barnawi’s property interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with or for the benefit of these individuals” the statement read, adding that “these designations demonstrate the United States’ resolve in diminishing the capacity of Boko Haram to execute violent attacks.”

“The Department of State took these actions in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Treasury.”

Nigerian government has been battling with the insurgency staged by the group in the last three years following the killing of its former leader, Mohammed Yusuf in 2008 by Nigerian security operatives.

Boko Haram which means ‘western education is sacrilegious’ seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate in the states of northern Nigeria. The group has led unwavering attacks on Federal Government establishments, security forces and international organisations and religious places of worship.

The sect in recent times has staged series of suicide and bomb attacks against the United Nations headquarter, police and government buildings in Abuja and a number of states across the north. Attacks are now launched at Churches in the region, claiming hundreds of lives.

The sect claimed responsibility for the August 26, 2011 attack on the United Nations building in Abuja killing at least 23 people and wounding scores. It also claimed responsibility for the December 25, 2011 attack on the Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Nigeria, that killed at least 35 and wounded dozens more.

Boko Haram’s deadliest violence occurred on January 20, 2012 in Kano, Nigeria, with a series of attacks that killed more than 180 people.

According to the US government, “Boko Haram’s victims have been overwhelmingly civilian.”