''Government is gaining control on Boko Haram'' says Jonathan

In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan  discuss Nigeria's battle to stop the spread of Boko Haram.

“If Boko Haram is not contained, it would be a threat not only to Nigeria, but to West Africa, Central Africa and of course to North Africa,” he said. “Elements of Boko Haram link up with some of Al Qaeda in northern Mali and other North African countries.”

President Jonathan admitted Nigeria has been making progress to contain “the Boko Haram saga.”

The Economist reports that the death toll from Boko Haram attacks in 2012 was 1,099, the number of incidents has been reduced.

“If you look at the last six months, incidents of killing started dropping,” President Jonathan contended, insisting that the government is gaining control.

President Jonathan added that religion (not unemployment) is the primary motivation for the violent rise of Boko Haram.