Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on reports that the State Department will formally designate the Nigeria-based terrorist organization, Boko Haram, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
“Boko Haram - which translates into ‘education is prohibited’ - is another example of how the threat from al-Qaeda is spreading. For years, the ‘Nigerian Taliban’ has been working to impose its strict ways in the country’s Muslim north. Once believed to be strictly local, its fighters are increasingly linking up with other al-Qaeda linked groups in the region. The United States has a security interest in seeing a stable Nigeria. Designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization will allow U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies the necessary authority to freeze Boko Haram’s assets and to stop entities providing support to the organization."
Note: Royce is the former Chairman of the Africa Subcommittee and former Chairman of the Terrorism Subcommittee.
