Update: Boko Haram in Nigeria – Foreign Affairs 7th October, 2014

Question No. 431

Parliamentary Question – Oireachtas
　
To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, together with his EU and UN colleagues, continues to focus on the activities of the Boko Haram in Nigeria with particular reference to the release of school girls taken prisoner some time ago; if efforts are being made to locate their whereabouts; if any have been released; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 7th October, 2014.
Ref No: 38222/14

REPLY

I strongly condemn the abduction of more than 200 young girls by Boko Haram from a school in the Nigerian town of Chibok in April.   I am appalled by continuing reports of other violent attacks and I remain seriously concerned by the security situation in Nigeria.

The Government has given its full support to the clear demands of the United Nations Secretary General and the High Representative of the European Union that the abducted girls be released and that those responsible be brought to justice. The Government has also urged the Nigerian authorities to take all appropriate steps to protect their citizens and to accept international assistance to locate the schoolgirls.   While some of the girls escaped shortly after the kidnapping, it is difficult to confirm recent rumours that others may have escaped.  

The EU as well as several individual EU Member States, the UN and the USA continue to assist the Nigerian authorities in strengthening their ability to provide security and to combat terrorism. The EU is currently funding the provision of technical assistance to the Office of the National Security Advisor of Nigeria to implement and coordinate counter-terrorism legislation and crisis management structures and to develop capacity to address the problem of increasing radicalisation and recruitment.    

On 22 May, the Al Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN added Boko Haram to its list of individuals and entities subject to targeted financial sanctions and an arms embargo. The EU has also added Boko Haram to its list of people and groups covered by the freezing of funds and economic resources with effect from 29 May.
 
Ireland supports the decisions reached at the Summit on Security in Nigeria held in Paris on 17 May, at which Nigeria and its neighbours committed themselves to intensifying regional and international cooperation to combat Boko Haram terrorism.     A follow-up conference was held in Abuja on 3 September. This process brought together Nigeria, its neighbours, the EU and other international partners to strengthen regional security cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram. The conference also underlined the importance of creating a secure environment in which the human rights of civilians in affected areas would be promoted and protected.
 
Our Embassy in Abuja, working locally in cooperation with EU and other key partners, remains in close contact with the Nigerian authorities, which have primary responsibility for securing the safe release of the missing schoolgirls as well as addressing the broader security situation.  

We will continue to support the Nigerian Government in its efforts to locate and free the abducted schoolgirls, to counter further radicalisation and terrorism and to promote full respect for human rights. Ireland has consistently supported the rights of women and girls, and in particular the right of girls to education.