- . . . As U.S Under-Secretary of State meets Foreign Affairs, Defence ministers
From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos and Hassan Haruna Ginsau
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali has yesterday said the assistance offered by the United State of America (USA), to search and rescue the abducted schoolgirls of government secondary school Chibok in Borno State, and to end terrorism in the country was too late.
The minister, who spoke on the Hausa Service of the BBC, monitored in Jos yesterday, said that the assistance offered by America and her allies should have been given before now, adding that until the situation became very difficult to avert.
Wali said, “The Boko Haram insurgency began since 2008 and no country has assisted until now when the everything became worst and critical to handle. Nigeria spent many years trying to deal with insurgency but not successful.”
The Minister however said that although the help came late but they are happy.
Meanwhile, the United States under-Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall met with Aminu Wali, and Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau yesterday, to discuss the issues of counterterrorism, elections, and human rights.
Sewall’s visit, which included meetings with other senior Nigerian government officials, civil society, and key stakeholders, comes as an interdisciplinary U.S. government advisory team arrived in Nigeria to provide technical and investigatory advice on the rescue of the more than 200 missing girls.
Sewall underscored the US’ commitment to supporting the Nigerian government’s efforts to find more than 200 missing girls who were kidnapped a month ago in Chibok, Borno State, and return them to their families. She emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to “combatting violent extremism, building law enforcement capability, protecting civilians, and respecting human rights.”
The Under Secretary further noted that a key focus of the U.S.-Nigerian bilateral relationship is combatting violent extremist groups and building law enforcement capacity while protecting civilians and strengthening respect for human rights.
She also met with individuals and activists affected by the kidnappings while in Abuja.
