State Dept. Makes Boko Haram Top Priority

Because of growing security concerns, Nigeria's president has cancelled a trip to the town where nearly 300 school girls were abducted by Boko Haram.

After years of Boko Haram terrorizing the West African nation, the U.S. State Department is finally making the radical Islamic group a top priority.

The agency admitted Thursday it could have acted sooner to designate Boko Haram a foreign terrorist group.

"This tragic kidnapping demands that we redouble our efforts to defeat a Foreign Terrorist Organization that has troubled Nigeria for more than a decade," the State Department said in a statement. "World leaders, including President Obama, have pledged their full support to the government and people of Nigeria as they seek the safe return of these brave girls."

Republicans are criticizing Hillary Clinton for not making that designation two years ago when she was secretary of state.

State Department officials told the Senate Thursday it's impossible to say if earlier steps would have had a big impact on deterring the group.