Abuja — The United States government Wednesday condemned what it described as the "brazen killings of civilians" by terrorist groups, Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the North-east as well as armed bandits in the North-west and North-central parts Nigeria.
A statement issued by the US Secretary of State, Mr. Michael Pompeo, and made available to journalists by the Department of State deplored the recent killing of civilians in Nigeria.
The statement noted that "these horrific crimes follow the shooting of a pastor and his pregnant wife on June 1 and the killing of an imam, local village head, and several civilians on June 5 in the course of intercommunal violence in Taraba State.
"Tens of thousands of civilians have lost their lives in Nigeria in recent years to violent attacks by terrorist groups or criminal gangs, in inter-communal violence, or due to their religious beliefs.
The State Department spokesperson, Mr. Morgan Ortagus, also made available details of the telephone conversation between Pompeo and Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama.
