Connect with us

International

US troops to help fight Boko Haram

Published

on

President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to White House on Monday July 20 which saw him being hosted by the United States president Barack Obama has triggered positive result especially as it concerns the dreaded menace of Boko Haram.
The US President Barack Obama has announced that US armed forces have been deployed to Cameroon to help fight against the Islamist militants Boko Haram.
The force, which will be 300 strong, will conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations in the region.
Cameroon and Chad have been targeted by the Islamist militants from northern Nigeria.
Mr Obama said the forces would remain in Cameroon until “no longer needed”.
In a notification to Congress, he said that an advance force of 90 troops have been sent to the country on Monday.
He said all US troops there would be “equipped with weapons for the purpose of providing their own force protection and security”.

Read also: Multiple explosions rock Maiduguri (Updated)

The US has recognised the increased threat its allies and interests in the region face following Boko Haram’s absorption into Islamic State. The jihadist group has shown itself resilient in the face of military operations by the combined armies of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
Little has been seen or heard of the African Union-backed Multinational Joint Task Force mandated to spearhead the counter-insurgency mission. Hence support from the US – and France – is crucial at this time.
Last year, US surveillance planes and personnel were deployed in north-east Nigeria after the kidnap of more than 200 schoolgirls who are still missing. This time, and away from the global scrutiny the Chibok abductions brought, other US soldiers are deployed elsewhere in the region with similar roles.
It’s still early days but this deployment could revamp the gathering of intelligence, and maybe prove a game changer in finding the core Boko Haram leaders who are keeping the jihadist campaign active.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the mission would be “part of a broader regional effort to stop the spread of Boko Haram and other violent extremist organisations in West Africa”.
Credit: BBC News

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now