John Kerry Warns Nigerians Against Excessive Force In Fight Against Terrorists
US Secretary of State, John Kerry, is currently on a tour of Africa and has addressed several issues over his time on the continent regarding various issues African countries face.
One of the biggest issues is that of terrorist attacks in Nigeria, led by the terrorist organization, Boko Haram.
Boko Haram has been terrorising parts of Nigeria and its neighbouring countries for several years now as they push their agenda for an Islamic State.
However, the Nigerian government and military has been cracking down on Boko Haram and in recent times have been more successful than ever in eliminating the group and their various factions.
The government has successfully reclaimed various areas in Nigeria that were once taken over by Boko Haram. And while Kerry praised the Nigerian government for this, he also warned against the military using excessive force against the terrorists as this could cause major blowback.
“…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…it creates terrorists [sic]” he said.
The US government has long been aiding the Nigerian government in the fight against Boko Haram.
