Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Steven Blaney, made the announcement in a statement dated December 30 in Ottawa and posted on the ministry’s website.

“Boko Haram is an organisation that is responsible for over 300 attacks in Northern Nigeria, which have resulted in the death of over 1,000 people.

“The Caucasus Emirate has carried out terrorist activities in Russia, resulting in the death and injury of many Russian civilians and security personnel, “the statement said.

Listing these organisations as a terrorist entities sends a strong message those actions will not be tolerated,” Blaney was quoted as saying in the statement.

The statement added that listing terrorist entities would facilitate the prosecution of perpetrators and supporters of terrorism, as well as countering terrorist financing.

According to the statement, under Canada’s criminal code, any person or group listed may have their assets seized and forfeited.

The United States formally designated Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organisations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists on November 13.