Meehan Chairs Subcommittee Hearing on Emerging Homeland Threat Posed by Boko Haram

Hearing follows Bipartisan Report Released Today Detailing Boko Haram Threat

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Patrick Meehan (PA-07), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterrorism and Intelligence, today held a hearing examining the emerging threat posed by Boko Haram. The hearing comes after the release of a bipartisan report entitled "Boko Haram - Emerging Threat to the U.S. Homeland," detailing the rapid evolution of Nigerian-based terror organization Boko Haram. The full report is available HERE. 

Chairman Meehan made the following opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“In late August, a suicide bomber drove a VBIED into the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, killing 23 and injuring over 80.  A sect based in Northern Nigeria, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the attack.

 “The attack on the U.N. headquarters represented a marked shift by Boko Haram, highlighted by targeting its first non-Nigerian entity and using a suicide bomber – hallmarks of al Qaeda and its affiliates.

“In what appeared in hindsight to be a bit of foreshadowing, one week before the U.N. attack, U.S. Army General Carter Ham, Commander of U.S. African Command (AFRICOM), stated publicly that Boko Haram had intent to coordinate and synchronize their efforts with AQIM and al Shabaab.  Based on the U.N. attacks, General Ham’s assessment seems to have been accurate.

“The U.S. Intelligence Community must not underestimate Boko Haram’s intent and capability to strike at U.S. interests and, most importantly, the U.S. Homeland.  Its fast evolution in targeting and tactics mirrors other al Qaeda affiliated groups and is worrisome.

“While I recognize there is little evidence at this moment to suggest Boko Haram is planning attacks against the homeland, lack of evidence does not mean it cannot happen.

“As our report makes clear, the U.S. Intelligence Community has very recently been wrong about al Qaeda affiliates’ intent and capability to strike the homeland, with near deadly consequences.

“The most notable examples include AQAP and TTP, whose threats to attack the homeland were both assessed to be “aspirational,” until they deployed suicide bombers to Detroit on Christmas Day 2009 and Times Square in May 2010 and caught us entirely off guard.

“Due to the fast evolution of Boko Haram in the last year, the U.S. Intelligence Community must increase intelligence collection on Boko Haram and enhance cooperation with our Nigerian partners to build their counterterrorism and intelligence capacity.  

“This subcommittee has held many hearings this year on multiple terrorist threats, including from AQAP in Yemen, the different groups operating in Pakistan, including TTP, and Hezbollah in Latin America.  One thing I have taken away from these hearings and from the many classified briefings we regularly receive is that we underestimate emerging terrorist groups at our peril.  

“The case of the Iranian terrorist plot in DC is a perfect example: everyone had assessed they would never strike in the homeland unless the U.S. or Israel attacked their nuclear facilities.  That has proven to be wrong.  It is one example, but points to the larger issue, which is that we must remain vigilant.

“In the case of today’s hearing, we must remain vigilant in countering Boko Haram.  I look forward to hearing from today’s witnesses.”

Witnesses at today’s hearing included:

·         Dr. Ricardo Laremont, Professor of Political Science and Sociology, Binghamton University, State University of New York

·         Dr. J. Peter Pham, Director, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, Atlantic Council of the US

·         Ms. Lauren Ploch, Africa Analyst, Congressional Research Service

·         Ms. Jennifer G. Cooke, Director, Africa Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies