WASHINGTON (AFP) – In an unprecedented move, the United States on Monday posted up to $23 million in rewards to help track down five leaders of militant groups accused of spreading terror in west Africa.
The highest reward of $7 million is offered for the Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, who last week called on Islamists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the bloody fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.
The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program also targeted Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), offering its first ever bounties for wanted militants in west Africa.
Up to $5 million was posted for Al-Qaeda veteran Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the one-eyed Islamist behind the devastating attack on an Algerian gas plant in January in which 37 foreigners, including three Americans, were killed.
A further $5 million was offered for top AQIM leader Yahya Abou Al-Hammam, reportedly involved in the 2010 murder of an elderly French hostage in Niger.
Malik Abou Abdelkarim, a senior fighter with AQIM, and Oumar Ould Hamaha, the spokesman for Mali’s Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), were also targeted by the rewards program, which will give up to $3 million each for information leading to their arrests.
Shekau was placed on a US blacklist last year, but Boko Haram has yet to be designated a foreign terrorist organization — an absence which has raised eyebrows among regional experts.
This development is explosive shrapnel device designed to escalate terrorism in west region,it's unhelpful instead it's only deteriorate and garner sympathy for the Islamic terrorist among Arab Muslims .Bounty on a wanted criminal does not curb their activities but embolden ,popularized and make the culprit a subject of value in their cause ,it will only exacerbate terrorist cells.Once boko realized international recognition of their terrorist cell as hopeful Nigeria will never have peace and hope of the Nigeria government to contain the unrest will be very slim if not impossible.The American move just escalated the problem ,making the little progress achieved by Nigerian forces recently undermined.Its simply understandable if Nigeria government will make her stance clear over her sovereignty to contain and engage internal domestic unrest according to our characteristics and warn the US and its allied to stay very off Nigeria internal problem.The involvement of the American in state security matter to contain terrorist activities will only deteriorate and multiply terrorist groups and many more cells of terrorism in Nigeria .It is a duty of Nigeria government to undermine this new US bounty offer to stem down the group rated recognition,Nigeria government should immediately denounce this bounty offer by the American.Boko cell can be dismantle with the aggressive and intensified millitary effort by Nigeria army.Its very simple strategy the Americans are trying shifting the terrorist haven they created in Iraq ,afghan to west Africa ,simply bcus they doing whatever it necessary prematurely end the chaos they created .
Posted: at 4-06-2013 01:17 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Muslim is a problem..those people are evil..what really is the teaching of ISLAM..?if Mr president should have call on American to help him and divide Nigeria so that Buhari will lead his people..that will be better,,,,devil and human can't eat in the same place...Muslims are DEVIL...
Posted: at 4-06-2013 04:23 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Abusiddiq at 4-06-2013 09:32 AM (10 years ago) (m)
Muslims are not devils but some of us for real are even morethan the devil you call us just as it use to happen in the Christine's. Allah will bring an end to dis inshaAllah. one day everything gonno be history. one love Nigeria
Posted: at 4-06-2013 09:32 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac