UN, AU to deploy 8,700 soldiers to fight terrorists

monjola sotubo

March 4, 2015 1:28 PM

This was disclosed by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, on Tuesday, March 3.

The United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) are set to deploy 8,700 trips to aid in the fight against Boko Haram.

This was disclosed by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, on Tuesday, March 3.

“One of the top priorities of the UN today is the fight against Boko Haram. Boko Haram is not just a problem in Nigeria but has become an international concern,” Chambas said in Lagos during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

“As we all know today, Boko Haram has also taken its atrocities to Cameroon, Niger and Chad. This is why the support for the Lake Chad Basin to be the platform for coordinating a joint fight against Boko Haram is a welcome development,” he added.

“The Lake Chad Basin countries, AU, UN and international partners have agreed to have a joint taskforce of 8,700 troops to be contributed by four countries from Central and West Africa. These troops would be properly equipped to aggressively give fight Boko Haram activities in the sub-region and Central Africa,” Chambas said.

“The time has now come for us all to come all-out to stop Boko Haram activities in our communities. The fight against Boko Haram has become an international fight, an African fight for sure, and will be anchored around the Lake Chad Basin Commission but with support from us all,’’ he added.

Troops from Cameroon, Chad and Niger were earlier deployed to Nigeria as part of a multi-national force constituted to tackle the terrorist sect.

monjola sotubo