Terrorism: Nigeria seeks review of international regulations

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states to review existing international regulations in its bid to address terrorism and armed conflict among member nations.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, yesterday quoted him as speaking while receiving a delegation of ACP comprising its Chairman, Ambassador Amadou Diop; and the Secretary-General, Dr Patrick Gomes, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

Commending the leadership of the group for the work done so far, the vice president pledged to convey their message to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Prof Osinbajo, however, emphasised the need for the group to review existing international regulations as it strives to address challenges of terrorism and armed conflict within ACP member -nations ,” Akànde said. He also quoted Osinbajo as asking member -nations to remain united in pursuit of the organisation’s objectives.

“Nigeria remains firmly in support of the ACP because we have benefited so much from the organisation. But I also want to emphasise the need for us to stay together,” he said.

Nigeria has been under heavy attacks by the Islamist militant group, named Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is an Islamic extremist terrorist group based in northeastern Nigeria, also active in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon. Since the current insurgency started in 2009, it has killed tens of thousands and displaced 2.3 million from their homes and was ranked as the world’s deadliest terror group by the Global Terrorism Index in 2015.