Boko Haram

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Speaker, I just returned from a congressional delegation trip to Nigeria, which was both eye-opening and moving.

Nigeria is a country of huge possibilities. It is an oil rich nation, the largest in Africa, with a population that will surpass the United States by 2050. It is mired with corrupt political leaders and a weakened police and military, leading to a dire political climate of joblessness in the northeast and giving rise to a terrorist organization of mostly young men called Boko Haram. They burn schools, churches, mosques, and police stations. They rob, steal, kidnap, and murder innocent victims in their path. Their violence has resulted in the deaths of thousands in the last decade.

Boko Haram's most notorious activity, which was the focus of our trip, was the recent kidnapping of 270 innocent girls attending school. These girls remain hidden--most likely scattered--and subjected to unimaginable crimes. This kidnapping received international attention for a short time, and then, like the girls, disappeared.

While in Nigeria, we met with victims of Boko Haram, as well as political, military, and civic leaders. We learned of the horrific suffering at the hands of Boko Haram and the inability of the corrupt Nigerian government, which is involved in a competitive upcoming election, to stop this violence.

Embedded in my mind are the young teen girls who told us harrowing stories of how they escaped Boko Haram terrorists while their friends, tragically, remained behind. We met with a weeping father of one such girl.

I will never forget the story of a young mother who witnessed Boko Haram decapitate her husband's head and left her dying in the street with her throat slit. She survived physically, but has been left broken financially and, of course, psychologically.

We spent time with a fusion team of Nigerian, U.S., British, and French military law enforcement put together to strategize the return of these girls.

Now, Mr. Speaker, some quick observations of mine to a very complicated situation.

As I have said before, some crimes against humanity are of the nature that knows no borders and require a response no matter where you live in the world. The kidnapping of 270 girls is such a crime. It cannot be treated just as a flavor of the week that is soon forgotten.

That is why the United States and the international community must continue to apply pressure to the Nigerian government to do all it can to negotiate the safe return of these young girls to their families.

For those citizens who want to join this fight, I join my colleague Frederica Wilson in asking people in this country and all over the world to tweet using #bringbackourgirls every day at 9 a.m.

During our trip, Mr. Speaker, we called upon--and we should continue to call upon--the Nigerian government to set up a relief fund for the victims and the families of Boko Haram for the financial and medical care that they so need.

The United States should continue our efforts with the fusion team and quickly respond to the team's request for approval of a strategic plan.

Of course, Mr. Speaker, we must continue to advise Nigerian authorities on the need for transparency and honesty and the need to deal with the economic plight of their people and urge a free and fair upcoming election.

As I said from the start, Mr. Speaker, Nigeria is a nation of great possibilities. It can one day be a giant economic partner for the United States and her allies, or it can become a safe haven for terrorists. We can keep it on the right path by bringing those girls home.

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