US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged the Nigerian army to show restraint and not violate human rights as it pursues an offensive against Islamist militants in the north-east.
Mr Kerry said there were "credible allegations" of "gross human rights violations" by the Nigerian military.
This week Nigeria launched its biggest offensive since the Boko Haram group began its insurgency in 2010.
A state of emergency is in force in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states.
"The United States condemns Boko Haram's campaign of terror in the strongest terms," Mr Kerry said in a statement.
"We urge Nigeria's security forces to apply disciplined use of force in all operations, protect civilians in any security response and respect human rights and the rule of law.''
Camps targeted
More than 2,000 people have died in the violence since 2010, most of which is blamed on Boko Haram.
On Friday Nigerian war planes and helicopter gunships attacked several militant training camps in the north-east, officials said.
One plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire, but Brig Gen Chris Olukolade said it had returned to base safely, while the "terrorist base" was subsequently "completely destroyed".
This is the first time Boko Haram has been reported to have used such heavy weaponry against aircraft.
A resident in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, told the BBC that the city was unusually quiet on Friday, with most people staying inside.
Brig Gen Olukolade said "several thousand" troops had been sent to the three north-eastern states to tackle Boko Haram.
The three semi-desert states where the state of emergency has been declared border Niger, Chad and Cameroon. They are roughly the size of England or the US state of Illinois but have a population of just 10 million.
Last month, Boko Haram rejected the prospect of an amnesty suggested by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Boko Haram: Timeline of terror
- 2002: Founded
- 2009: Hundreds killed when Maiduguri police stations stormed; leader Mohammed Yusuf captured and killed while attempting to escape
- Dec 2010: Bombed Jos, killing 80 people; blamed for New Year's Eve attack on Abuja barracks
- Jun-Aug 2011: Bomb attacks on Abuja police HQ and UN building
- Dec 2011: Multiple bomb attacks on Christmas Day kill dozens
- Jan 2012: Wave of violence across north-east Nigeria
- April 2012: Deadly Easter church attack in Kaduna; This Day newspaper offices bombed
- February 2013: French family kidnapped in Cameroon
- May 2013: Heavily armed incursion into Bama town
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Same restraint America has shown in Yemen,Afghanistan n Pakistan with their indescriminate drones attack that has killed scores of civilians n continuing
ReplyDeleteThe mayhem these rare breed of senseless vagabonds have caused does not require the hypocrisy of the West. Let us deal with our internal problem first. We know the type of love they have for us.
ReplyDeleteWho cautions America in its conduct of military operation worldwide? Sometimes, terrorists justify their criminal behaviour with America's hypocrisy.
ReplyDelete