Boko Haram, ISWAP: Nigeria, Others Seek UK Support

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has said that it is exploring areas of support from the United Kingdom (UK) in the fight against terrorism.

This was announced in a statement on Saturday by Chief of Military Public Information, Col. Muhammad Dole.

Countries in the MNJTF, formed in 2015, include Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been operating in the Lake Chad region.

Col. Dole said the First Secretary Political for Lake Chad Basin, Dr. Katharine Brooks and the Deputy Defence Advisor at the British High Commission in Nigeria, Lt.-Col. Bobby GilBrooks met in Maiduguri.

The spokesman noted that the meeting was geared towards exploring areas of interventions and efforts at degrading the terrorists.

He listed Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC), Information Operations as well as Counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) capabilities as areas the West African nations needed support.

Col. Dole added that, “A follow-up meeting was held in N’Djamena on Friday between the commander and the Commander, Operation TURUS and British Military Assistance Training Team West Africa, Col. Nick Abram.

“The UK Government had supported the MNJTF in 2015 through the provision of vehicles, rough terrain motorcycles, power generating set of different capacities, dental equipment and communication equipment, among other items.”