US Secretary of State, John Kerry has cautioned Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the North East against instilling fear in the minds of the innocent ones.
“In the wake of terrorist activity, some are tempted to crack down on anyone and everyone. But extremism can’t be defeated through repression or fear. Fear instilled through repression invites not confidence but contempt,” Kerry said, “it creates terrorists.”
Kerry spoke at a news briefing shortly after he visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III.
The US scribe, who praised Nigeria on its recent military successes against Boko Haram, warned however against what he called:“cracks down” on the Islamists with excessive force.
Kerry also praised Nigeria for reclaiming swathes of territory from Boko Haram and releasing thousands of hostages over the past year, adding that Nigeria has made “important progress.”
He acknowledged that Nigeria and its neighbours have degraded Boko Haram’s capabilities but that a heavy-handed response should be avoided, even as he called for strict respect for human rights.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused Nigerian troops of excessive force and extra-judicial killings of suspected Boko Haram insurgents, hundreds of Shiite Muslims and pro-Biafra protestors. The military has denied the charges.
On his third visit to Nigeria in less than two years, Kerry met with traditional and religious leaders, including Sokoto Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar.
Kerry appealed to Nigerians to practise equality and tolerance to “overcome deep-seated ethnic and religious divisions.”
His remarks come one day after police reported that a Muslim mob in northern Nigeria killed eight people after torching the house of a Muslim man who stood up for a Christian student accused of blasphemy.
Kerry is due to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari later on Tuesday in the Nigerian capital of Abuja as part of a three-nation tour focussed on counterterrorism.
The top US diplomat, who was in Kenya on Monday, is expected to discuss the Boko Haram insurgency, fighting corruption and boosting Nigeria’s moribund economy that has been pummelled by the drop in global oil prices.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kerry has commended the efforts of the Sultan for promoting religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kerry was speaking during a courtesy visit on the Sultan at his palace.
He said that the Sultanate Council is building a community of tolerance for peace, progress and political stability in Nigeria, adding that the United States would continue to identify itself with the Sultanate in strengthening religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians.
The US scribe wanted all hands to be on deck towards strengthening religious knowledge among Nigerians.
This was even as Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar gave assurance that the council would continue to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians for the overall political growth of the country. He said that religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians remained the principal objective of the Sultanate as it mobilizes Nigerians to tolerate one another for peace, progress and political stability of the country.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who accompanied Kerry to the palace, said that the state government would continue to strengthen peaceful coexistence among the people, irrespective of religious, tribal and political differences.
“We don’t discriminate on religious,tribal, ethnic or political affiliations as we accommodate all for peace and harmony. ” [myad]
