Niger, Cameroon, Chad Will Help Nigeria To Stop Boko Haram

West African leaders at the summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission decided to establish a multi-national force to counter the Boko Haram militants operating in the region.

A regional force will start the operations in November.

This was one of the key items of the nine-point resolution of the summit, which was held in Niger, undertook by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The leaders added that the new command center for the force is due to be accomplished by November 20.

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The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who posted the resolution on his official Twitter account, said the leaders were focused on estimation of security situation and common strategy for fighting Boko Haram.

He added the Heads of State agreed to strengthen operational and intelligence skills and coordination of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin. Experts to develop the plan of fighting terrorism will be directed as soon as possible.

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The Boko Haram extremists have established a strong presence in northeastern Nigeria and have committed assassinations, abductions and other inhumane acts in the region.

Over 11,100 people have died on both sides of the insurgency since July 2009 when the Boko Haram conflict intensified.

The Islamist group is believed to control more than two dozen towns in the three states in Nigeria.

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African leaders decided to collaborate against Boko Haram in May at a Paris summit called by French President Francois Hollande.

In July Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon had each pledged 700 soldiers to create a multi-national force to fight the Nigeria-based group.

Source: Legit.ng