From: Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The Nigerian military said a collaboration between neighbouring nations would boost security and curtail the increasing presence of Boko Haram in the border areas.
Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maj. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, said in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, shortly after a bilateral meeting with officials of the Cameroonian security agencies that the security agencies of both countries ought to work closely now to bring Boko Haram activities in the border areas to an end.
“The bilateral meeting between officials of the Nigerian military and that of Cameroon is just to discuss how to end insurgency on our borders. The meeting involves security officials of the Nigeria and Cameroon to raise the counter-insurgency efforts on our borders,” Attahiru disclosed at the Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC), headquarters of the Operation Lafiya Dole, Maimalari Army Cantonment, Maiduguri.
He said the two countries were exploring the modalities of working together with a joint operation around Borno south-eastern area bordering the Republic of Cameroon. He said the cooperation followed the multilateral arrangement of the member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission that produced the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Leader of the Cameroon team, Brig.-Gen. Valere Nka said Cameroon was “pleased to have bilateral arrangement with Nigeria” to improve the security situation in the border lines of the two countries.
“The capability of Boko Haram has been reduced compared to what it was three years ago when they seized communities and even declared caliphate,” Nka said, calling for more support by the two countries for end to insurgency.