UK condemns Abuja plaza bombing

Mr Mark Simmonds, who is the British Minister for Africa on Friday expressed UK government’s condemnation of Thursday’s bombing of a shopping mall in Abuja. This is contained in a statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Affairs of the British High Commission, Mr Robert Fitzpatrick.

The Minister restated his government’s support for the recent UN action against the Boko Haram insurgency.

“I am deeply concerned by Thursday’s bombing in Abuja, the third since April. We condemn all acts of terrorism in the strongest terms.

U.N. Security Council blacklists Boko Haram leader, splinter group

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council sanctioned the leader of Nigeria's Boko Haram and a splinter group on Wednesday, the first individual and entity to be designated by the world body since the Islamist militant group was blacklisted, diplomats said.

Leader Abubakar Shekau and Boko Haram faction Ansaru will be banned from international travel and their assets frozen under the U.N. al Qaeda sanctions list.

(ENDLESS) BOKO HARAM CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS: Over 1,000 people are crossing into southern Niger every week fearing attacks by Boko Haram - UN refugee agency

“The Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, or People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad (commonly referred to as Boko Haram, Hausa for “Western education is forbidden”), continued to commit violent acts in its quest to overthrow the Nigerian government and impose its own religious and political beliefs throughout the country, especially in the North” (USDOS, 20 May 2013)

“Boko Haram, a militant group that espouses an extreme and violent interpretation of Islam, benefits from this culture of impunity and lawlessness as it exploits Muslim-Christian tensions to destabilize Nigeria. Boko Haram also justifies its attacks on churches by citing, among other things, state and federal government actions against Muslims.” (USCIRF, 30 April 2013, p. 8)

“The group has primarily targeted police and other government security agents, Christians, and Muslims working for or accused of cooperating with the government.” (HRW, 31 January 2013)