Former Head, Counter Terrorism Bureau of the United States, State Department, Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, described Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, commonly called Boko Haram as the deadliest terrorist group in the world, noting that it killed at least seven persons in each attack in the North eastern part of the country.
Speaking at the 2nd International conference on democracy and good governance in Port Harcourt, Ambassador Benjamin said that the Taliban in Afghanistan was next to the dreaded Boko Haram in rating of terrorist groups at the moment.
Benjamin who spoke at the programme organised by the Rivers State Government, said Boko Haram had become a major problem in the country and some other neighbouring countries, adding that the situation was not as bad as it is in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.
He said: “By 2012, Boko Haram was the second most deadly terrorist group in the world after Afghanistan’s Taliban as Taliban killed more people than Boko Haram. Presently, Boko Haram is the deadliest terrorist group, killing at least seven persons per attack. Boko Haram has already become a major menace to countries such as Cameroun, Niger, as well as Chad. They are well funded and well armed.”
Professor Pat Utomi, at the event, harped on the values of democracy, saying that it confers legitimacy on political leadership.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi on his part called on Nigerians to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in coming elections, stressing that it was the only way the country could overcome some of its challenges.
