The Canadian government also named the Caucasus Emirate blamed for recent bombings in Russia as a terrorist organisation.
Rights groups have blamed Boko Haram for the death of more than 3,000 people mostly in the northern part of Nigeria.
The outlawed group started an insurgency against the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2009. The group says it wants the northern states of Nigeria placed under Sharia law.
The US government says the leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, is the ninth most wanted person in the world and has placed a $7 million (N1.1 billion) bounty on his head. The Nigerian military, however, believes Mr Shekau might be dead after getting caught in a shootout.
"Boko Haram is an organisation that is responsible for over 300 attacks in northern Nigeria, which have resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people," said Steven Blaney, Canadian minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.
"The actions of Boko Haram and the Caucasus Emirate meet the legal threshold set out in the Criminal Code, which requires the existence of reasonable grounds to believe that the entity has knowingly participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity or is knowingly acting on behalf of, at the direction of, or in association with such an entity," reads a statement from the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
"The Government of Canada is keeping our streets and communities safe. Listing terrorist entities facilitates the prosecution of perpetrators and supporters of terrorism, as well as countering terrorist financing," added Mr Blaney.
By virtue of these listings, the assets of the groups and anyone associated with them in Canada will be "seized and forfeited".
"There may be severe penalties for persons and organisations that deal in the property or finances of a listed entity. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly participate in, or contribute to, any activity of a listed entity for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the entity to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity," the statement reads.
CDS orders military formations to be alert
The chief of defence staff, Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim, has put all the military formations on the land, air and waters alert to ensure the New Year's Day celebration is hitch-free, even as security in the Federal Capital Territory has been beefed up.
Since the terrorist attack on a Catholic Church at Madalla in Suleja two years ago, which led to the death of no fewer than 50 worshippers, security operatives have intensified action in the FCT during any of the Christian or Muslim festivals.
Although the military has recorded a lot of success in the ongoing anti-insurgency war in recent times, attacks on some military barracks in Borno State which led to the destruction of helicopters and some military installations have been of concern to the Security Council members.
According to a military source, Admiral Ibrahim and all the service chiefs had, shortly before the Christmas break, met primarily to review the security situation in the country resolved to ensure the end of the year was free of security breaches.
Soldiers, policemen and other security agents are everywhere in the FCT, just as traffic wardens are not lacking at crossroads. All the satellite towns are not left out, as cars and commercial motorcyclists and "keke NAPEP" operators are subjected to thorough checks.
"As Nigerians are celebrating the Yuletide and the New Year ceremonies, our soldiers are all over the country keeping watch over public and military formations to prevent any terrorist or related attack. We don't want a repeat of the Madalla attack. The Navy watches over the high seas, the Air Force aircraft are going round the sensitive places while the troops of the Army are everywhere as directed by the CDS and other service chiefs," the source said.
The director, defence information, Major General Chris Olukolade, urged members of the public to alert the security operatives to any suspicious move in their neighbourhood.
"Such information would be attended to with immediate effect while the sources of such information would be protected," the serving general said. "The security operatives are happy that every attempt of the insurgents to carry out any attack is being foiled. Our eyes are on the borders since these criminals come from the neighbouring countries."
Nigerian security forces recently launched ground and air operations on terrorist locations in the forest at Alafa, about 21km from Bama, Borno State, and the Lake Chad islands, killing 73 of them.
Over 56 terrorists died in the ensuing fight over the weekend at Alafa forest while two soldiers were wounded in the operation meant to track fleeing terrorists.
Major General Olukolade said air and land bombardments were continuing in different locations where terrorists had been sighted.
The military also disclosed that troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force have foiled an attempt by terrorists who were gathering on an island on Lake Chad with a view to carrying out an attack on some Nigerian communities.
Seven of the terrorists died while others who fled in different directions toward Niger and Chad Republic are being trailed by troops.
"Intelligence reports have confirmed that some of the wounded terrorists were seen in a canoe paddling towards Tumbun Telkandam in Chad Republic," the military stated.
A military source said, "Most of these terrorists are non-Nigerians and that's the reason it is so easy for them to escape from our shores to their countries of origin where they regroup before coming back here to strike, but we are keeping watch over our borders now in order to take the battle to their camps
No comments:
Post a Comment