President, Chadian leader reaffirm commitment to stop Boko Haram

dimeji akinloye

June 4, 2015 7:09 PM

Buhari paid tribute to the gallantry of Chadian soldiers engaged in operations against Boko Haram and condoled the families of their comrades killed in active service.

Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari meets with Chad’s Idriss Déby on June 4, 2015.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his Chadian counterpart, President Idriss Deby have reaffirmed the commitment of their countries to greater cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram.

This is contained in a statement issued at the end of President Buhari's one-day official visit to Chad on Thursday, June 4, in N’Djamena, Chad, reaffirmed the commitment of their countries to greater cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram.

In it, both leaders agreed on the need to quickly make the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) fully operational, to effectively combat terrorism in the North-East, Nigeria and "everywhere" that Boko Haram operates.

Buhari and Deby called on the international community to provide the Lake Chad Basin Commission and neighbouring countries with all necessary support to combat terrorism and insurgency.

"Both Heads of State agreed that the war on Boko Haram should be supported by emergency development initiatives in areas affected by this insurgency group.

"This will help to overcome the harmful effects faced by local populations,’’ the communiqué said.

While in the Chadian capital, Buhari also held a closed-door meeting with Major General Tukur Buratai of Nigeria, who was recently appointed Force Commander of the MNJTF, with headquarters in N’Djamena.

dimeji akinloye