ABUJA – Nigeria is considering recalling its soldiers on peacekeeping in foreign countries following the need for “troops surge’’ in operational areas in the North-East.
Mr Mike Omeri, the Coordinator, National Information Centre, stated this yesterday in Abuja at a news conference.
The coordinator explained that this was one of the positions of the country at a meeting held between it and some African countries on Jan. 20 in Niamey, Niger Republic.
He did not mention the countries involved but said the meeting was necessitated by the “collapse’’ of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) set up to fight the Boko Haram sect.
Omeri said the sole aim of that meeting was to seek the authorisation from the UN Security Council through the AU to establish a more effective multinational force to confront the insurgents.
He said the country’s other positions at that meeting was that Nigeria and her neighbours needed to improve on the effective management of their borders.
“The Abuja Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit should collaborate with the Intelligence Coordination Centre based in Chad in intelligence sharing.
“Offer of military and humanitarian assistance from regional and international bodies should be deployed along Nigerian common borders with neighbouring countries with clear mandate, command, control and rule of engagement,’’ he said.
Omeri said that Nigeria also stressed that Boko Haram was not only a challenge to the country but a threat to regional and international peace and security which required collective efforts.
He commended the UN Security Council for strongly condemning the atrocities of Boko Haram in North- East and demanded that it should unequivocally cease all hostilities and abuse of human rights.
