Nigeria's president declared "total war" against the Islamist militant group Boko Haram in a televised speech on Thursday as his country celebrated Democracy Day, NBC News reported. President Goodluck Jonathan said he has ordered security forces to use any means necessary under the law to crush the rebel group, which is fighting for an Islamic state in Nigeria. "I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again and that these thugs will be driven away," Jonathan said. Boko Haram abducted more than 200 schoolgirls from northeastern Nigeria in April, a move that gained the attention of the world and resulted in the deployment of U.S. surveillance drones, spy planes and special forces to the region.
