In an unprecedented move, the United States of America yesterday placed a $23 million bounty on leaders of militant groups which have spread terror in West Africa and Nigeria in particular, the Agence France Presse (AFP) reports.
This latest action by the US is seen as sensational; it saw the highest reward of up to $7 million offered for the leader of Nigeria’s Boko Haram extremists, Abubakar Shekau, while $5 million each was posted for Al-Qaeda veteran Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Yahya Abou Al-Hammam, a top figure in Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, US officials said.
The presidency yesterday applauded the decision by the US to place a $7 million ransom on the leader of the Boko Haram sect, saying it is a welcome development.
Special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, noted: “It is a positive development. We welcome any effort of the international community to support Nigeria’s effort at waging war against terrorism and its perpetrators.
“What this proves is that terrorism is a global phenomenon that requires global effort at combating it. Nigeria believes that the international community needs to come together to combat terrorism.”
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