The United States of America, United Nations and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have condemned the violent confrontation that led to the loss of many lives in Baga, a border town in Borno State. Similarly, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Northern Elders Forum (NEF) have raised similar concerns over the Baga incident.
Their reaction coincided with the arrangements being put in place by the federal government to inaugurate the Committees on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North and that of Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons today.
The US government, which also expressed concern over the possibility of the insurgency having deeper ties with other violent extremists throughout the region, said quelling the violent revolt needed more than just a security intervention. Responding to reporters’ questions at the State Department in Washington DC on Monday evening, the acting deputy spokesperson, Patrick Ventrell, said the US government would support the Nigerian authorities in their efforts to bring the perpetrators of violent acts to justice.
“The United States does condemn the violence that took the lives of so many innocent civilians in Baga, Borno State. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who died or were injured as a result of these attacks. “We support the Nigerian authorities in their efforts to bring the perpetrators of violent acts to justice, and stress the importance of respecting human rights and protecting civilians in all security responses. So we urge all parties to refrain from reprisal attacks,” he said.
On the reported use of rocket-propelled grenades by Boko Haram and the fact that the sect might have integrated more with the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb across the Sahel, Ventrell said the State Department does not have information on the type of munitions used by the sect.
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