UN chief Ban
Ki-moon began a two-day visit to Nigeria Sunday in the wake of a
suspected Boko Haram ambush on the army chief, saying it was "a time of
hope" despite the rise of extremism.
Combating
Islamist violence is expected to be high on the agenda as the
secretary-general holds talks with President Muhammadu Buhari, whose
inauguration in May sparked a massive upsurge in jihadist attacks.
"Across our world, we see
insecurity, inequality, growing divides," Ban told a private meeting of
state governors in Abuja, according to a UN statement.
"Here in Nigeria, you know the challenges all too well –- including the rise of extremism and the lack of equal opportunity.
"I
know this is a deep and vital challenge in particular for the governors
of the northeast... This is also a time of hope. I want to commend you
and all of Nigeria's leaders for the peaceful democratic transition of
power."
Ban touched down at
Abuja's international airport just hours after the military revealed
Boko Haram fighters had ambushed a convoy carrying Nigeria's army
chief-of-staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.
The senior officer, who was
unharmed, was visiting troops Saturday when insurgents attacked in
Faljari village, 45 kilometres (28 miles) east of Borno State capital
Maiduguri, army spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement.
"The
terrorists encountered an overwhelming firepower from the troops in
which 10 of them were killed. The troops captured five terrorists," he
said.
"During the encounter, sadly, we lost a soldier, while an officer and four soldiers sustained gunshot wounds."
Boko
Haram has stepped up its attacks in Borno and two neighbouring states
in its northeastern heartland since Buhari came to power in May.
The Islamists have also carried
out deadly ambushes across Nigeria's borders and in recent weeks suicide
bombers, many of them women, have staged several attacks in Nigeria,
Cameroon and Chad.
The fresh
wave of violence has claimed more than 1,000 lives over the last three
months, dealing a setback to a four-country offensive launched in
February that had chalked up a number of victories against the
jihadists.
An 8,700-strong
Multi-National Joint Task Force, drawing in Nigeria, Niger, Chad,
Cameroon and Benin, is expected to go into action soon.
Military
officials have said it will be more effective than the current alliance
in the battle to end Boko Haram's six-year insurgency, which has
claimed at least 15,000 lives.
"This a crucial moment for Nigeria," said Ban, on his second visit to Africa's largest economy since taking office in 2007.
"You face many serious
challenges but you have also taken a hugely important step to move
forward in a way that can respond to the aspirations of the country's
people."
Before
his departure the UN chief will lay a wreath to commemorate the fourth
anniversary of a Boko Haram bombing at Abuja's United Nations House, the
headquarters for around 400 UN employees, that left 21 dead in June
2011.
He is also due to dine
with captains of industry and discuss "democracy, human rights and
countering violent extremism" in a meeting at the foreign ministry.
Ban last visited Nigeria in May 2011 to discuss the crises in southern Sudan and Libya with then leader Goodluck Jonathan.
Buhari,
who came to power on May 29 vowing to destroy Boko Haram, replaced his
military leaders earlier in August, ordering his new chiefs-of-staff to
end the insurgency within three months.
The
military under Jonathan was heavily criticized for poor handling of the
insurgency and its failure to free more than 200 schoolgirls abducted
from the northeastern town of Chibok in April last year.
Ban
is due to head to France late on Monday to discuss preparations for a
major climate change conference to be held in Paris in December.
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