Canada designates Boko Haram, Caucasus Emirate terror organisations

Canada has formally designated Boko Haram and the Caucasus Emirate as terrorist organisations under the country’s Criminal Code.
Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Steven Blaney, made the announcement in a statement dated December 30 in Ottawa and posted on the ministry’s website.
The statement said: “Boko Haram is an organisation that is responsible for over 300 attacks in Northern Nigeria, which have resulted in the death of over 1,000 people.
“The Caucasus Emirate has carried out terrorist activities in Russia, resulting in the death and injury of many Russian civilians and security personnel.”
The statement quoted Blaney as saying that listing these organisations as terrorist entities sends a strong message that such actions will not be tolerated.
The statement added that listing terrorist entities would facilitate the prosecution of perpetrators and supporters of terrorism, as well as countering terrorist financing.
According to the statement, under Canada’s criminal code, any person or group listed may have their assets seized and forfeited.
It said there may be severe penalties for persons and organisations that dealt in the property or finances of a listed entity.
“It is a crime to knowingly participate in, or contribute to, any activity of a listed entity for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the entity to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity,” the statement said.
It would be recalled that the United States of America formally designated Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organisations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists on November 13.
President Goodluck Jonathan officially designated Boko Haram and Ansaru as terrorist organisations in June 2013, following the declaration of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
The terror groups had on different occasions claimed responsibility for the 2011 suicide bombing of the UN headquarters in Abuja, attacked worship houses and schools, killed students and teachers and burnt buildings among others.