Washington, DC - The United States strongly condemns the recent terrorist attack in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno. The attack reportedly took the lives of more than 40 people and injured dozens more in a crowded market in the town of Sabon Gari. While no individual or group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, it took place in an area where hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks by suspected members of the terrorist group Boko Haram.

We offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and the friends of the victims. We will continue to support Nigeria’s efforts to bring those responsible for the attack, as well as previous attacks, to justice.

As we have said before, the people of northern Nigeria deserve to live free from violence and from terror. The United States continues to provide a range of counterterrorism assistance to help Nigeria and its regional partners. We commend the ongoing efforts of the Nigerian military, as well as the security and defense forces of Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, for the gains they have made in the fight against Boko Haram.

The United States stands with the Nigerian people in their struggle against violent extremism. We will continue to work closely with the Nigerian government and our international partners to combat Boko Haram and assist the many victims of its senseless brutality.