Cameroon Deploys Troops to Nigerian Border to Fight Boko Haram

LAGOS (NAN) ― The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, on Tuesday said that Cameroon had deployed about 1,000 soldiers to Nigerian border to fight Boko Haram.

Wali made the statement in Lagos at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) 17th Brainstorming Session on “Nigeria’s Foreign Policy: Community and National Security Situation”. 

The minister was represented by Sola Enikanolaiye, a director in the ministry.

He said that the Cameroonian Government’s gesture was an outcome of the Paris Summit on Security in Nigeria.

“In responding to the threat being posed by Boko Haram, Nigeria had to embrace the opportunity presented by the May 17th,2014 Paris Summit on Security in Nigeria.

“Since the Paris Summit, a number of significant steps have been taken, especially establishment of the Intelligence Fusion Centre, technical assistance by our international partners and deployment by Cameroon of 1,000 troops.’’

The minister also said that the meeting of the foreign ministers in London on June 12 took steps aimed at strengthening the response to the Chibok girls’ abduction and tackling Boko Haram menace.

Wali, however, said that rescuing the Chibok girls would require extreme care, tact and patience so as not to expose the girls to harm.

“Our security forces are, therefore, taking utmost care in dealing with the situation,’’ he said.

Tayo Ogunsilire, President of Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN), said that there were challenges in the effectiveness of the nation’s foreign service.

“The reality is that the service is nowhere near fulfillment of the hopes and aspirations of the founding fathers and pioneers of the service,’’ he said. 

Photo Credit: Kevin Renes/Dreamstime.com