The U.S. has designated
Nigeria’s Boko Haram and Ansaru militant groups as foreign terrorist
organisations.
The state department
described the move as “an important” step to help Nigeria “root out violent
extremism”.
“These designations are an
important and appropriate step, but only one tool in what must be a
comprehensive approach by the Nigerian government to counter these groups,” a
State Department statement said.
This means that the U.S.
justice system is now empowered to block all financial dealings or transactions
between America and these organisations.