The United States insisted yesterday that Nigeria requires a comprehensive regional approach to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

Visiting Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari’s coalition approach as he reassured of the U.S. commitment to back Nigeria’s efforts to battle the menace.

He urged that priority should be given to efforts at rescuing the abducted schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok.

Blinken told reporters that defeating the sect must not only include a strong military response, but also sustainable security for liberated areas, good governance, development, and opportunity for the civilian population.

“It also requires a strong commitment to human rights, the absence of which only alienates the people and drives them toward Boko Haram,” he added.

“We have been working hard to assist the government of Nigeria. For example, we have been providing training, equipment, advice, information, intelligence sharing and logistic support. We recently established a $40-million fund to global security fund; that is a sign to promote joint effort with the Lake Chad countries to strengthen cross border security, cooperation and capacity to combat Boko Haram,” he said.

Blinken added that the U.S. government, as part of the support package, released $5 million to the Multinational Joint Task Force towards strengthening the force against the insurgents.

He assured that his country would begin training for investigators and training on border security, post blast investigation and crisis management.

Blinken, who noted that so many internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country need help, promised that the U.S. government would step up humanitarian assistance to the people in need.

“So all of these are comprehensive support package for Nigeria.

“The Chibok girls remain a priority for us. I know there are many more young girls and women who are missing. Our focus is on them as well. We will continue to provide assistance to the government in an attempt to look for them, find them and bring them home,” he said