Nigeria welcomes US troops to Cameroon to combat Boko Haram

World Today

The United States will conduct surveillance and intelligence operations against Boko Haram in Nigeria as part of a significant escalation of Washington’s role in combating the group with a deployment of up to 300 U.S. military personnel to neighboring Cameroon. Nigeria’s president and military welcome the move and see it as a positive development to help bring the insurgency to an end.

CCTV Africa’s Deji Badmus reports from Lagos, Nigeria:

Highlights:

  • After initially offering to help find the missing Chibok girls last year, the U.S. pulled out of the search operation following complaints it wasn’t getting the cooperation of the Nigerian military and government at the time.
  • The U.S. also blocked Nigeria’s attempt to buy weapons to fight Boko Haram over allegations of human rights abuses by Nigerian soldiers.
  • With a new government and better relations between the two countries, Nigeria is welcoming the U.S. move to send troops to Cameroon to aid the fight against insurgents.
  • President Muhammadu Buhari has given the military a three month timeline to end the insurgency. Military commanders say they are poised to meet that Dec. 31 deadline.
  • But Boko Haram not showing any sign of relenting and have carried out a wave of bombing campaigns.
  • A much-awaited regional force to take on the sect is also yet to be deployed.

Nii Akuetteh of African Immigrant Caucus discusses combatting Boko Haram

CCTV America’s Susan Roberts interviewed Nii Akuetteh, the executive director of the African Immigrant Caucus about efforts to fight Boko Haram.