U.S Law Has Aided & Abetted Boko Haram in Terrorist Activities - Buhari

While speaking at the United States Institute for Peace, President Muhammadu Buhari stated that America’s Leahy Law, amendment has indirectly helped aid and abet Boko Haram’s terrorist activities.

According to Punch, Buhari stated:

“In our efforts at combating the activities of Boko Haram, the new government has sought and obtained the support of not only our neighbours but other international friends and partners.

“Regrettably, the blanket application of the Leahy Law by the United States on the grounds of unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against our forces has denied us access to appropriate strategic weapons to prosecute the war against the insurgents.

“In the face of abduction of innocent school girls from their hostels, indiscriminate bombings of civilians in markets and places of worship, our forces have remained largely impotent because they do not possess the appropriate weapons and technology which they could have had, had the so called human rights violations not been an obstacle.

“Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the application of the Leahy law amendment by the US Government has aided and abetted the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist ideology and hate, the indiscriminate killings and maiming of civilians, in raping of women and girls, and in their other heinous crimes.

“I believe this is not the spirit of the Leahy Laws. I know the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes.”

Buhari therefore appealed to both the Executive Arm and the US Congress to examine how the US Government can provide Nigeria with more substantial counter-terrorism assistance with minimal strings.

He said the longer the delay, the deadlier the Boko Haram sect gets.

Wikipedia defines the Leahy Law/Leahy amendment as “a U.S. human rights law that prohibits the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense from providing military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights with impunity. It is named after its principal sponsor, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.”