Boko Haram: Buhari Demands More Action On Multi-National Task Force
Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has called on member-countries of the Lake Chad Commission to redouble their efforts to intensify the operations of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) established to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.
Buhari made this call on Thursday in N’djamena during bilateral talks between Nigeria and Chad, Buhari noted that the security of Nigeria and her neighbours was intrinsically linked, and this makes it very essential that they cooperate on security issues in a robust and sustained manner.
According to President Buhari, he was quite certain that the MNJTF, which comprises Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon will be able to secure and stabilise all the areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency when it becomes fully deployed and functional.
He reaffirmed his conviction that with greater cooperation between Nigeria and her neighbouring countries, the Boko Haram insurgency would be brought to an end very soon.
The President thanked Chad for its invaluable support in the fight against insurgency and terrorism.
“Your troops have stood shoulder to shoulder and fought gallantly with ours in the fight against the forces of evil.
“This is a remarkable show of good neighbourliness, which we must reinforce in the years ahead,” he told President Idriss Deby Itno.
Mr President expressed his concern about the activities of the insurgency who has taken a huge toll on citizens of both countries, many of whom have been forced to flee their homes.
He was of the opinion that the harrowing images of displaced citizens of both countries, in search of safety and succour, must spur their governments and others in the sub-region to do more “to restore their dignity and give them the relief they need”.
On the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Chad, President Buhari noted that both countries were bound by “nature’’, adding that they must therefore work together to find lasting solutions to issues of border management, migration and movement of goods and services.
The President, who had earlier thanked President Deby for attending his inauguration ceremony on May 29 in Abuja, said that he would return to Nigeria with the assurance that Nigeria and Chad are poised to intensify their cooperation.
President Idriss Deby while speaking believes the decision of Nigeria President to relocate military command to Maiduguri during the inaugural address, was a right step towards restoring peace and security to states affected by terrorism, and the sub-region.
He assured President Buhari that Chad will continue to work with Nigeria to achieve lasting peace and security in the sub-region, given their historic, cultural and economic ties.
Source: Channels TV