22 Jun 2012

Boko Haram leaders declared terrorists

6:27 am on 22 June 2012

The leaders of the Boko Haram group in Nigeria have been formally designated as terrorists by the US State Department.

The move means any assets belonging to Abubakar Shekau, Abubakar Adam Kambar and Khalid el Barnawi in the United States will be frozen. The BBC reports the move is likely to have little effect on them.

Boko Haram has carried out a number of attacks against churches and other establishments since 2009.

More than 640 people have died so far this year in attacks blamed on the group.

Boko Haram means "Western education is a sacrilege" in the Hausa language.