US deploys 300 troops against B’Haram

The United States of America’s President, Barack Obama, on Wednesday informed the Congress he would be sending about 300 US military personnel to Cameroon, the White House said.

This, according to Reuters, was part of a stepped-up effort by the US to counter the violent group Boko Haram.

Reuters quoting an administration official, who the agency said spoke on condition of anonymity as saying that an advance force of US military personnel had arrived in Cameroon.

The forces, the news agency stated, would be conducting airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, the official said, adding they would be armed for their own protection.

 Meanwhile,  President Muhammadu Buhari  has said he has no doubt that the Nigerian military has what it takes to end the activities of the Boko Haram sect by December.

He said he remained fully confident that by the end of this year, Boko Haram’s ability to attack, seize, ravage and hold any Nigerian territory would have been completely obliterated.

According to a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, on Wednesday, the President spoke while granting audience to the Commander of United States Africa Command, Gen. David Rodriguez, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari said that with greater support from his administration in terms of improved training, equipment, logistics and welfare, the Nigerian Armed Forces were now well positioned to meet the December deadline given to them to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

He reiterated his appreciation of the United States’ support for Nigeria’s efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency.

“We must thank the United States of America for sending training teams and equipment to us. The positive results of our collaboration are evident. 

“Structured attacks by the insurgents have reduced and by the end of the year, we should see the final routing of Boko Haram as an organised fighting force,” the President said.

Buhari, however, appealed for greater cooperation from the US  in securing  the Gulf of Guinea through which stolen Nigerian crude oil was being shipped abroad.

While lamenting the huge revenue losses which Nigeria suffers from crude oil theft, the President said his administration was determined to end this criminal practice.

He added that he would welcome more support from the international community in this regard.

Rodriguez told the President that he was in the country to strengthen Nigeria/US military relations, and also explore further options for assisting the Multinational Joint Task Force established by Nigeria and her neighbours, to fight Boko Haram.