Boko Haram: U.s Pledges More Aid For Nigeria

BEVERLY HILLS, April 23, (THEWILL) – The United States, U.S government has promised to mobilise more aid and support for Nigeria and other countries affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, noting that its present support to Nigeria only covered 13 per cent of the United Nations, UN, requirements in meeting the needs of the IDPs in the country.

The country's Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power made the pledge on Friday at a Town Hall Meeting with the students and staff of American University of Nigeria, AUN, in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, where she visited IDPs camps.

She stressed that the present assistance to Nigeria and other affected countries was inadequate in meeting the food and medical needs of the Internally Displace Persons, IDPs, among others.

According to her, “When I return to United Nations in New York, I plan to deliver an urgent message to other member states that we together need to do much more to support Nigeria and other affected countries in responding to this immense problem.”

Power commended the efforts of the Nigerian military to contain the Boko Haram insurgents, citing the soldiers' latest repel of the insurgents' attack in Kareto as a feat.

She urged the military to continue the campaign within the rules of engagement by respecting the people's human rights in the fight so as to garner the citizens' trust and goodwill.

“This (respect for human rights) is something we had discussed in all our meetings with the leaders in Cameroon, Chad, President Buhari and respective regional militaries,'' she said.

The envoy noted that Boko Haram had an unparalleled record in the area of human rights abuses, adding that her country was now very active in efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian military to perform optimally.