presidential election, amid concerns that post-poll violence could undermine the fight against Boko Haram militants.
Boko
Haram has killed thousands, kidnapped hundreds and displaced more than a
million people during its campaign to carve out an Islamic state in the
northeast of Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation.
Overnight Boko Haram attacked the main northeastern city
of Maiduguri, leading to hours of fighting before Nigerian troops
repelled the militants.
Kerry's visit to the commercial capital Lagos, in which he was
to hold talks with incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and challenger
Muhammadu Buhari, highlights the stakes for Washington in what is
expected to be Nigeria's closest election since its 1999 transition from
military rule.
Kerry will "emphasize to both of the candidates the importance of
non-violence in this election and having a free and fair and transparent
process", said a senior State Department official, speaking on
condition of anonymity.
He will argue "in particular that the loser accepts the
results and discourages supporters from responding in any violent
fashion," the official said.
Kerry's visit, which he announced only on Friday,
marks an unusual intervention so close to a national election.
For example, the White House has
said President Barack Obama will not meet Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu when the Israeli leader visits Washington in March in order
not to be seen as choosing sides on the eve of an election in Israel.
U.S. officials say there is a difference between Obama
meeting a sitting foreign leader at the White House and Kerry urging
calm by meeting both candidates in Nigeria.
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