Security Council Press Statement on Boko Haram Attacks against Civilians in North-East Nigeria and Chad

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria and Chad including the deadly attacks in Kwajafa in Borno State, Nigeria, on 5 April 2015 and in Tchoukou Telia, Chad, on 3 April 2015.

The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the families of the victims and their sympathy to all those injured, as well as to the peoples and the Governments of Chad and Nigeria.

The members of the Security Council reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee law.

Ahead of the planned Summit between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the members of the Security Council urged the two subregional organizations, and their members, to adopt a common strategy and develop active cooperation and coordination to more effectively and urgently combat the threat posed by Boko Haram, and stressed the need to adopt a comprehensive approach to successfully combat Boko Haram and the threat it poses to the region.  In this respect, the members of the Security Council welcomed the convening of a joint ECOWAS-ECCAS experts meeting in Douala, Cameroon, on 2 April 2015 as a step towards achieving this goal of enhanced cooperation.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the actions of Boko Haram, constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whosoever committed.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.