Jonathan bans Boko Haram
- Africcon News
Africcon Report: Jonathan bans Boko Haram, Ansaru
Africcon New Media – News
From: Africcon Media – Nigeria
Collaborators risk 20-year jail term
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared the Boko Haram sect as a terrorist organisation and banned its activities.
The order, which has been gazetted as the ‘Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice 2013 affects both Boko Haram (Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad) and another group – Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan’, was yesterday approved by President Goodluck Jonathan pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 (As Amended).
Under the Act, anyone found to have collaborated with a terrorist group or supported the commission of an act of terrorism will be sentenced to a minimum of 20 years imprisonment.
Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said in a statement issued last night that the gazette “officially brings the activities of both groups within the purview of the Terrorism Prevention Act and any persons associated with the two groups can now be legally prosecuted and sentenced to penalties specified in the Act.”
According to Abati, the proscription order warns the general public that any person participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the collective intentions of the said groups will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act.
The presidential spokesman said: “Section 5 (1) of the Act prescribes a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years for any person who knowingly, in any manner, directly or indirectly, solicits or renders support for the commission of an act of terrorism or to a terrorist group.
“For the purposes of subsection (1) of section, “support” includes -
(a) incitement to commit a terrorist act through the internet, or any electronic means or through the use of printed materials or through the dissemination of terrorist information;
“(b) receipt or provision of material assistance, weapons including biological, chemical or nuclear weapons, explosives, training, transportation, false documentation or identification to terrorists or terrorist groups;
“(c) receipt or provision of information or moral assistance, including invitation to adhere to a terrorist or terrorist group;
“(d) entering or remaining in a country for the benefit of, or at the direction of or in association with a terrorist group; or
(e) the provision of, or making available, such financial or other related services prohibited under this Act or as may be prescribed by regulations made pursuant to this Act.
Shekau could be tried in the US
Meanwhile the U.S. government yesterday said the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, accused of terrorism activities in Nigeria could be tried in the U.S. when caught.
Kurt Rice, the U.S. Acting Assistant Director of Diplomatic Security Threat Investigations and Analysis Directorate, said this at a joint tele-news conference with David Gilmour, Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs.
NAN reported yesterday that the tele-conference was aired to audiences in Abuja, Accra, Dakar, Lagos and Niamey.
Rice’s comments came a day after the U.S. offered a 23 million dollars (about N3.6bn) reward for information on the location of five leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Boko Haram.
All the suspects named in the first U.S. Rewards for Justice Programme for the sub-region were accused of being the mastermind of different cases of kidnap of foreigners and terror activities in West Africa.
Rice said that Shekau when apprehended could be charged before a Nigerian court or “the courts of partner nations whether in Nigeria, North or West Africa.’’
He expressed the hope that the capture of the Boko Haram leader would ``check’’ the deadly attacks in the country linked to the militant group in the past.
“Our intent is to bring him before a court.
“Our intent in offering this reward at this time is to work with our Nigeria partners to try and make (Nigeria) a more stable and secure area,’’ he added.
Rice said the U.S. rewards for Justice programme had a “track record’’ that had paid out 125 million dollars (about N19.8bn) to more than 80 people, who provided information leading to the arrest of terrorists, since 1984.
Also speaking, Gilmour ruled out suggestions that the seven million dollar (N1.1bn) bounty offered on the head of Shekau could be counter-productive to Nigeria government amnesty offer to the insurgents.
Gilmour reiterated the U.S. position that security-based solution was not the only way to address the current security challenges in Nigeria. He said the U.S. recognised that among Northern Nigeria there were legitimate grievances such as social inequality and youth unemployment.
“We urge the Nigeria government to take seriously those grievances of the general population of Northern Nigeria,’’ he said.
He advised Nigeria security operatives, currently conducting military operations in three North Eastern states, under the state of emergency rule, to try and build the confidence of the population to keep them safe.
