Nigeria says UN force not needed to tackle Boko Haram

Nigeria’s top security official on Friday ruled out the need for a United Nations or African Union-backed force to fight Boko Haram, saying the country and its partners could handle the threat. Possible “enhanced international support” against Boko Haram will be discussed on the sidelines of an AU summit later this month, given fears about the group’s threat to regional stability. But national security adviser Sambo Dasuki, a former army colonel, said wider assistance would not be necessary.

It’s something that we can do. It’s absolutely something we can do.I think as it is we are in good shape to address the issue with those partners, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

National security advisor Sambo Dasuki told BBC World Service radio in an interview

Representatives from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon met this week to thrash out details of a new regional force to counter the rising threat from the Islamist militants. An existing force, made up of troops from Nigeria, Niger and Chad appears to have collapsed in disarray even before the January 3 attack on its headquarters near the northeastern town of Baga. Troops from Niger and Chad were not present during the raid, which saw Baga razed and hundreds of civilians, if not more, killed in what is feared could be the insurgents’ worst atrocity. Tuesday’s meeting agreed to transfer the headquarters of the new force from Nigeria to the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, reflecting concern about Boko Haram’s rising transnational threat.

Africa nigeria boko haram