U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Nigeria's president to adopt new strategies to halt escalating violence.
Clinton traveled to the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Thursday, where she held talks with President Goodluck Jonathan and his security team.
VOA's correspondent Anne Look, who is traveling with Clinton, said the security talks were to focus on northern Nigeria, where radical Islamist group Boko Haram is blamed for scores of attacks.
Clinton was expected to press for a strategy that addresses grievances that have led to the unrest.
“One that incorporates not only a security strategy but also more of a social and economic strategy to deal with poverty and the sense of marginalization in northern Nigeria that has been attributed to the Boko Haram movement. She will be calling for better coordination between northern Nigeria’s various intelligence services - police, military, the state security service. And offering American assistance to coordinate those efforts," said Look.
Later Thursday, Clinton travels to Ghana where she will meet with new President John Mahama.
On Friday, she is scheduled to attend the funeral of Ghanaian President John Atta Mills, who died suddenly last month.
Clinton's nearly two-week tour of Africa will then take her to Benin.
Nigeria has experienced a surge in militant and sectarian violence over the past two years. Rights groups say Boko Haram has killed more than 1,000 people in shootings and bombings that mostly target authority figures, government buildings, and churches.
Some church attacks have sparked riots and retaliation by Christian gangs.
The country of 160 million people is split roughly in half between the Muslim-dominated north and largely Christian south.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Visits Africa
1/16Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greets Kofi Annan and his wife Nane Lagergren at the funeral of Ghana President John Atta Mills, in Accra, Ghana, August 10, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
2/16U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, meets with Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama, at his residence in Accra, Ghana, August 9, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
3/16U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a clinic at Delft township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, August 8, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
4/16South Africa's Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, left, and Hillary Clinton visit the Delft South Clinic in Delft South, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, August 8, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
5/16Hillary Clinton meets with former South Africa President Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel at his home in Qunu, South Africa, August 6, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
6/16Hillary Clinton and South Africa's Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane see a rare snow flurry as they leave business meetings in Pretoria, South Africa, August 7, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
7/16Hillary Clinton walks out with African Union Chair-Designate Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma after their meeting at Brynterion Estate in Pretoria, South Africa, August 7, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
8/16Hillary Clinton dances with Emille Phiri, chair of the Lumbadzi Milk Bulking Group, Lilongwe, Malawi, August 5, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
9/16Hillary Clinton meets with Malawi's President Joyce Banda at the State House in Lilongwe, Malawi, August 5, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
10/16Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki, with Hillary Clinton (R) and his vice president Kalonzo Musyoka (L), leaves after a meeting at State House in Nairobi August 4, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
11/16Hillary Clinton is met by Uganda's Foreign Affairs Minister Okello Oryem upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, August 3, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
12/16Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Bishop Elias Taban in Juba August 3, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
13/16Hillary Clinton meets with South Sudan President Salva Kiir, August 3, 2012, at the Presidential Office Building in Juba.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
14/16Participants in coordinated colors take part in Taiwan's National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. This year marks the 102nd anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
15/16Hillary Clinton shakes hands with staff from the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, August 1, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
16/16The shadow of Hillary Clinton on a Senegalese flag before she spoke at the University of Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal, August 1, 2012.
Clinton arrived in Africa on July 31, 2012, beginning a trip taking her both to Africa's newest nation South Sudan and on a private visit to elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, 94.
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Map of Countries Hillary Clinton is visiting during Africa Tour
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