President Goodluck Jonathan has approved an order declaring them terrorist organisations.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, approved the proscription of the Islamic terrorist groups, Boko Haram and Ansaru, and authorised the gazetting of an order declaring their activities illegal. Henceforth, their activities are to be considered as acts of terrorism.

Thisday newspaper yesterday, June 5, 2013, reported that the proscriptive order coincided with a statement by the US government on June 4 that the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, could be tried in the US when caught. This is sequel to a recent offer by the US of a bounty of Seven million Dollars (about FCFA 3.5 billion) for information leading to Shekau’s arrest.

Nigerian Tribune newspaper cited a statement by the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, as saying the order was pursuant to Section Two of the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011. It officially brings the activities of Boko Haram (or Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad) and Ansaru (or Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan) within the purview of the Terrorism Prevention Act. Anyone associated with the groups now faces up to 20 years imprisonment.

The Federal Government last month secured an order from the Federal High Court in the capital, Abuja, to ban Boko Haram and Ansaru from existing or operating in Nigeria. The proscription order was granted by Justice A. Abdu Kafarati on May 25, 2013. Meanwhile, Abubakar Shekau last week called on Islamists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the bloody fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

The army has been waging a ground and air offensive against Boko Haram and Ansaru militants in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States since a state of emergency was declared last month. The insurgency has killed about 2,000 people since 2009. Boko Haram launched the insurgency in 2009, carrying out a wave of bombings and assassinations in north and central Nigeria. Ansaru, which is suspected to be an off-shoot of Boko Haram, joined the insurgency in 2012, taking foreigners hostage. It claimed responsibility for killing seven European and Middle Eastern nationals abducted in February 2012 in the northern Bauchi State.