Terrorists Are Created, Not Born – Amina Mohammed

UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Amina Mohammed, said on Thursday that Boko Haram terrorists were created and not born.

Mohammed, who made the remarks while briefing the Security Council on her recent trip to the Lake Chad Basin for on-the-spot assessment of the Boko Haram crisis.

“As the Deputy Secretary-General, as an African and as a Nigerian, I truly welcome the Council’s visit to the Lake Chad Basin to witness first-hand the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Even more so that, as a child, I grew up in Maiduguri and know that terrorists are not born but created by a set of circumstances.

“The Security Council’s field visits around the world have been instrumental in highlighting the links between peace, development and human rights.

“I thank you for the much-needed attention you have now brought to this troubled region.

“The Lake Chad crisis provides a powerful illustration of the complex multi-dimensional challenges facing our modern world.

“A successful response requires mobilising our assets holistically to implement the 2030 Agenda and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.

She said the UN is focused on six main pillars of engagement namely, political; humanitarian assistance; human rights; recovery and development; justice, law enforcement and the financing of terrorism; and technical support to the regional Multi-national Joint Task Force.

“Three other dimensions are being added: gender; defections and surrenders by Boko Haram militants, and that has its own challenges given the number of youth and young girls.

“And support to Member States to develop a regional plan of action to prevent violent extremism.

“It is essential that we address the Boko Haram crisis in a holistic manner.

“This means looking beyond the security lens and addressing the root causes, including inequality, exclusion and the full array of economic, social, political, cultural and religious grievances,” she said.