US To Give N1b To Anyone Who Finds Boko Haram Command

The United States has made good its promise to help Nigeria end terrorism by offering a $7m (N1.1bn) reward to persons with information on the whereabouts of the leader of militant islamist sect, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.

A senior US State Department official, on Monday said, “They’ve had a relationship for some time [with the deadly AQIM]. They send people back and forth for training, they’ve done the provision of arms back and forth."

The $7m is part of the $23m posted on Monday by the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme in rewards to help track down four other leaders of militant groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb spreading terror in Nigeria and other West African countries.

The money, which the Presidency described as a welcome development, acknowledged the links between AQIM and Nigeria’s Boko Haram, which is under fire in a military offensive.

The US official said: “The links are… not quite as solid as some of the other terrorist organisations,” he said. “Nonetheless, it’s a dangerous link and it’s something that we feel we should try and stop.

“Under his leadership, Boko Haram’s capability has certainly grown. When we see someone like this who…is actually leading to an increase in the capability of an organisation, that’s something that we would naturally try to see if we can do something to impede.”

Recall that Shekau had last week called on Islamists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the bloody fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

In a video obtained by AFP last week, he claimed Boko Haram forces had made significant gains against the Nigerian Army while sustaining little damage since the start of the military offensive on May 15.

Shekau’s whereabouts could not be determined in the video, in which he was shown seated and dressed in camouflage and a turban, with an AK-47 at his side.

The search has commenced, take the challenge if you think you can dare. *my hand no dey o!*