MOSCOW (Sputnik) — “There must be concerted effort by both the [Nigerian] government and even the international community towards rehabilitating these [Boko Haram] people,” Usman said, stressing that poverty, ignorance and illiteracy in the country must to be countered by increased funding for widespread and freely-available education in order to uproot the problem.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari made it clear he would be willing to negotiate with militants if it leads to an end to violence, the diplomat said.
Usman expressed hope that with combined effort between Nigeria and its neighbors, militant activity would be reduced by over 70 percent by December.
The Boko Haram extremist group began large-scale attacks in northeast Nigeria in 2009, seeking to establish fundamentalist sharia law on territories under its influence.
In February, the militants expanded into neighboring Niger, Cameroon and Chad, prompting the states' governments to launch a regional offensive.
