The days of Boko Haram may be numbered as the United States President Barack Obama has notified Congress of the decision of his government to send 300 troops to Cameroon to fight the sect. A report yesterday by Reuters said already, 90 of the proposed 300 troops, began deploying on Monday. Also to be deployed alongside the troops are surveillance drones to help identify hideouts of the terrorists.
The report said the deployment of the troops was with the consent of the Cameroonian President Paul Biya. Reuters quoted Obama as indicating in his letter to parliament that the troops will “conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the region.”
“These forces are equipped with weapons for the purpose of providing their own force protection and security and they will remain in Cameroon until their support is no longer needed,” he added. According to the report, some US officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the forces would provide useful intelligence to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which was established by member nations of the Lake Chad Basin Commission as part of the regional efforts to crush the sect. The report on the deployment of the troops to Cameroon came as President Muhammadu Buhari expressed optimism that given the successes recorded by the military; Boko Haram will be defeated by December.
The president said Boko Haram’s ability to attack, seize, ravage and hold any Nigerian territory would have been completely obliterated by the end of the year. Buhari told visiting Commander of United States Africa Command, Gen. David Rodriguez, at the State House, Abuja yesterday that with greater support from his administration in terms of improved training, equipment, logistics and welfare, the armed forces were now well-positioned to meet the December deadline he gave them to crush Boko Haram. Buhari thanked the US for supporting Nigeria’s efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency.
“We must thank the United States of America for sending training teams and equipment to us. The positive results of our collaboration are evident. “Structured attacks by the insurgents have reduced and by the end of the year, we should see the final routing of Boko Haram as an organised fighting force,” the president said. Buhari, however, appealed for greater cooperation from the US in securing the Gulf of Guinea through which stolen Nigerian crude oil is shipped abroad.
Decrying the revenue losses, which Nigeria suffers from crude oil theft, the president said his administration was determined to end the crime and would welcome more support from the international community to do so.
Rodriguez told Buhari that he was in the country to strengthen Nigeria-US military relations and explore further options for assisting the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) established by Nigeria and its neighbours to fight Boko Haram. Meanwhile, the army has confirmed the death of seven people from the suicide bomb explosions that rocked Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Tuesday. It said 11 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident that claimed the lives of the three suicide bombers.
The disclosure was contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Colonel Sani Usman. The statement also said troops of the 5 Brigade ambushed and killed 10 Boko Haram suspects who carried out last week’s attacks on a military location as well as Geidam town in Yobe State. Many weapons were recovered during the encounter, including an antiaircraft gun and one light machine gun.
The explosives occurred at three minutes intervals and seven people were confirmed dead, including the three suicide terrorists, while 11 others sustained various degrees of injuries. “The Nigerian Army wishes to also inform the public that today (Wednesday), troops of 5 Brigade ambushed the suspected Boko Haram terrorists that attacked military location and Geidam town last week. They were ambushed while returning from an attack on Gajiram near Ngollom village. “The troops killed 10 Boko Haram terrorists and wounded some.
The troops also recovered one anti-aircraft gun, five AK 47 rifles, one Fabrique Nationale rifle, two machine guns and one light machine gun. “Other weapons and equipment recovered include a rocket propel grenade tube, eight AK 47 rifle magazines, 1 x Toyota Land Cruiser, two belts of 7.62MM (NATO) with 150 and 180 rounds of ammunition respectively,” Usman said.
Also, the army said troops undertaking cordon and search operations around Ekine Mosque in Okene, Kogi State, came under attack on Tuesday by suspected terrorists, leading to the death of two of the fighters, and a soldier. The army also said troops had arrested one Abacha Kumjo, a suspected Boko Haram fuel and logistics supplier around Monguno. Kumjo was arrested with 20 litres of petrol concealed in a black polythene bag while trying to cross from Monguno to a terrorist camp.
“He siphoned the fuel from his Golf Wagon vehicle with registration number AA 175 MFA, Borno State. The suspect is being interrogated further,” the military said. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has approved the creation of a new standing committee to be known as Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Refugees and Initiatives on North- East Zone.
The leadership is yet to constitute leadership and membership of standing committees of the House. The new committee will take over some responsibilities from the Standing Committee on Health as its own jurisdiction, including oversight function on the ministry, agency, parastatals or government department responsible for IDPs, refugees, migrants and stateless persons.
The decision to create the committee was taken at yesterday’s plenary following the adoption of a motion on the creation and jurisdiction of additional committee, pursuant to Order 19, Rule 216 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House sponsored by Hon. Emmanuel Orker- Jev (Benue, APC).
