NZ call on jihadists a mystery

New Zealand decreed Boko Haram a terrorist group just weeks before the African jihadist organisation abducted 300 schoolgirls in Nigeria, police documents reveal.

It was not until two months later, in May 2014, that the United Nations followed suit – leading to speculation that New Zealand’s information may have come through the Five Eyes security alliance of which it is part.

New Zealand ‘‘unilaterally’’ designated Boko Haram – officially Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad – a terrorist entity in early March 2014. The schoolgirls were captured in April in north Nigeria, prompting the global Bring Back Our Girls campaign.

The 337-page police list, detailing all people and groups deemed terrorists by New Zealand under the Terrorism Suppression Act in 2017, does not provide any information on why the unilateral call was made in advance of the UN decision.

Otago University international relations expert professor Robert Patman said it was hard to determine the reasons without firm information. ‘‘One can only speculate that Wellington followed America’s diplomatic lead on this matter, or was influenced by intelligence provided by the UK – a fellow member of the Five Eyes club – that has had a close connection with Nigeria.’’

The Five Eyes intelligence alliance is made up of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Human rights lawyer Michael Bott speculated: ‘‘We are part of Five Eyes, so maybe we knew something.’’

The police list does not appear to name any terrorists based in New Zealand.

Questions put at the weekend to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade were referred to police. Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers said ‘‘operational reasons’’ meant he could not comment on any individuals on the list.

A spokeswoman for the Government’s duty minister, Jenny Salesa, said she did not have detailed knowledge of the situation.