Nigerian Army rescues 30 hostages held by Boko Haram

The agreement was reached at a meeting between the Nigerian President, Mr Muhammadu Buharia and his Cameroonian counterpart, Mr Paul Biya in Yaounde, the Capital of Cameroon.

“Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria are sparing no effort in fighting terrorism in the region…”

The reinforcements will raise to 8,500 the number of troops deployed to take on Boko Haram insurgents, who have been attacking villages and towns inside Cameroon for two years, massacring and abducting civilians.

Cameroon has complained that its efforts to combat the militants have been hampered by Nigeria’s refusal to grant its forces the right to pursue them onto its soil, which both Chad and Niger enjoy.

Boko Haram, based in northeastern Nigeria and also active in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon, has wreaked havoc through a wave of bombings, assassinations and abductions, in its attempt to overthrow the Nigerian government and create an Islamic state.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler, has sworn to take out the Islamist extremists.

The movement has also forced young teenage girls and women to become suicide bombers.

The EU said those responsible for the recent suicide attacks in Cameroon on July 25 and in Nigeria on July 26 have a complete disregard for human life and dignity. Cameroonian Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet said Boko Haram militants used the veil as “camouflage”, the BBC reported.

The Nigerian Air Force says it has successfully blocked the routes through which the terrorist group, Boko Haram, has been getting its supplies of petroleum products and other materials to carry out its terrorist activities.

Local reports described Boko Haram insurgents attacking several villages on the island of Medi Koura on Saturday before being pushed back by Chadian forces.

It is hoped that the high level discussion will result in conclusions that will operationalise the multi national task force that will fight the terrorist group. Failure to defeat Boko Haram in the short term, will undeniably beget new security dynamics in the entire region.