The United States has declared the Nigerian militant groups Boko Haram and Ansaru as "foreign terrorist organisations" under U.S. law.
In an announcement published Wednesday, the U.S. State Department described Boko Haram as a group "with links to al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb that is responsible for thousands of deaths in northeast and central Nigeria over the last several years including targeted killings of civilians."
It said that Ansaru, formed last year, was "a Boko Haram splinter faction that... [has] kidnapped and executed... international construction workers."
The designation of the groups as "terrorist" would help American and partner law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute suspects, the State Department said.
The step will outlaw the provision of material support and resources to, or transacting with, Boko Haram and Ansaru, and freeze any property they may have in the U.S.
However, the State Department said the move was "only one tool in what must be a comprehensive approach by the Nigerian government to counter these groups through a combination of law enforcement, political, and development efforts, as well as military engagement..."
