UK, US to step up aid against Boko Haram
June 17, 2015, 3:56 am

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari appealed to allies and neighbors at the 25th African Summit in Johannesburg last week to do more to help destroy Boko Haram [Xinhua]

UK Africa Minister James Duddrige told the media on Tuesday that London was prepared to provide technical assistance – including sharing intelligence about Boko Haram – and military training.

Britain’s pledge of support comes as Washington announced on Tuesday that it would provide $5 million to a Nigeria-led African force that will be established to defeat Boko Haram.

A de-facto Afican force was hastily put together by Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria earlier this year.

A US State Department official also signaled that Washington could open negotiations with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari who visited the G7 Summit in Germany last week to press for more international support to defeat Boko Haram.

But the extremist group has not been sitting back waiting for an international coalition to amass forces against it.

In fact, it has been making daring raids into Abuja’s neighbors who have committed forces to remove it from northeastern Nigeria.

On Tuesday, Boko Haram improvised explosive devices exploded on a road used by the Nigerian military in the northeastern province of Borno, killing three soldiers and a police officer.

A day earlier, Boko Haram fighters launched a double-suicide bomb attack against a police academy and security station in the Chadian capital N`Djamena killing 24 and wounding at least 100.

The attack is believed to be in retaliation for Chad’s role in fighting Boko Haram. In February, N`Djamena deployed a military contingent to assist Cameroon after it came under a Boko Haram attack.

On Wednesday, security forces patrolled many parts of the capital and searched cars near Muslim and Christian places of worship.

On February 16, Cameroonian President Paul Biya hosted the leaders of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) who agreed to provide his country and Chad with nearly $100 million to assist in their fight against Boko Haram.

Although African nations have launched a combined military effort, sanctioned by the African Union and supported in part by Washington, to destroy the militant group, Boko Haram still retains significant offensive capabilities to strike at towns in Borno.

Buhari has met with his Chadian and Niger counterparts since winning election in March to ramp up cooperation in battling Boko Haram. Forces from both countries have crossed into Nigerian territory in anti-terrorism operations.

According to Agence France-Presse, Buhari is planning to visit Cameroon to convince the government there to commit to a regional anti-Boko Haram coalition.

The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies