Nigeria, Others Form Regional Force To Tackle Boko Haram

Nigeria and three other countries have pledged to speed up the creation of a 2,800-strong regional force to tackle the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

The BBC reported that the Defence ministers of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger said they would each contribute 700 troops to the force.

Niger’s Defence Minister, Karidio Mahamadou, said they were determined to “eradicate this curse” (Boko Haram).

Boko Haram’s insurgency is focused on Nigeria, but it has carried out some cross-border raids.

It was suspected of blowing up the Ngala Bridge, which lies on a key transport link between north-eastern Nigeria and Cameroon, on Wednesday.

Cars and lorries loaded with goods are stranded on the highway, residents told the BBC.

The regional defence ministers met in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Wednesday, to hold further discussions on the growing threat posed by Boko Haram.

In May, the four countries, whose borders meet at Lake Chad, agreed to share intelligence and coordinate border security.

Meanwhile, France has welcomed the establishment of the multinational force to combat the terrorist threat in Nigeria.

It noted that the commitment was in line with the action plan defined at the Paris Summit for Security in Nigeria on May 17,2014 and the follow-up meeting on June 12 in London aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism while ensuring respect for human rights.

A statement by the First Counselor, Political Affairs and Communication, France Embassy, Georges Vanin, in Abuja on Thursday, described the decision as a positive step forward in the fight against terrorism.

It said, “France welcomes the commitment made on July 23 in Niamey by the heads of state of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad to contribute to a multinational force to combat the terrorist threat in Nigeria, within the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.”

Source:punchng.com