Nigeria Receives US aid against Boko

Nigeria yesterday welcomed a US decision to send up to 300 military personnel to Cameroon to help the regional fight against Boko Haram, despite having itself requested more direct help from Washington

President Muhammadu Buhari's spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the deployment was a "welcome development" while the military said it demonstrated co-operation was needed against the Islamists.

US President Barack Obama yesterday said 90 personnel had already been sent and the rest would conduct intelligence and surveillance operations.
"The United States has given the pledge to support the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria and in the region," Shehu told AFP by telephone.

Military spokesman Colonel Rabe Abubakar added: "This is how the fight can be won  collectively with partners cooperating to fight against a common cause - terrorism - which has been ravaging the region.

"Fighting terrorism is not one nation's issue. It requires a global effort. We need to work together ... to fight this evil."

Buhari - who took office in May vowing to end the violence - on Wednesday met the US military's Africa Command chief, General David Rodriguez.

Buhari has made efforts for a new five-nation force against Boko Haram. The Multinational Joint Task Force was due to be deployed in July but the deadline passed with no new date announced for it to start.

The US announcement comes after the Islamic State-allied militants have increased attacks using suicide bombers in border areas of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Diplomatic relations between Abuja and Washington were strained under Buhari's predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, over US refusal to sell weapons to Nigeria.

Tweet