Guterres, who is visiting Nigeria for the first time in his capacity as secretary general, said he came to Nigeria “to express my solidarity with the victims of terrorism,” his office said in a statement.
Buhari received Guterres at the presidential villa in the capital Abuja on Wednesday, where he thanked the UN for supporting the country’s fight against terrorism.
Nigeria is grappling with years of fighting against Islamist groups that have left thousands dead and millions displaced in the country’s northern region. Boko Haram militants and their supporters continue to launch vicious attacks across the region in search of control.
“When we took office, the Northeast was the main security issue that we inherited in 2015, but we were able to make people understand that you can’t kill people and shout “Allah Akbar”,” Bukhari said, according to a statement on Wednesday. referring to an Arabic phrase often translated as “God is greater”.
“Either you don’t understand what you’re saying, or you’re just stupid. God is a God of justice, so you can’t kill people and say God is great. Fortunately, people understood our message and it had a big impact. ,” he added.
On Tuesday, Guterres visited the state of Borno.
During a visit to a UN-supported reintegration center for former rebels, the UN chief said he was pleased with the willingness of surrendered terrorists to reintegrate into society.
“I was amazed to see today in the center that those who were terrorists want to integrate into society and contribute to it. The policy pursued here is a policy of reconciliation and reintegration,” he said at the center.
Guterres also spoke about his interactions with displaced people in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.
“Yesterday (Tuesday) I visited Maiduguri, where the United Nations is supporting internally displaced people. I was deeply moved by their stories and struggles. This includes fighting hunger when the World Food Program predicts that 4.1 million people living in northeast Nigeria will experience food insecurity in the coming off-season,” he said.
“But despite everything they have seen and experienced, the people I have met remain hopeful and determined to return to their communities and rebuild their lives.”
According to Guterres, the UN has proposed to increase funding for Nigeria’s humanitarian aid.
Before going to Nigeria, Guterres visited Senegal and Niger.