HighlightTop StoryTrending Story

Terrorism: Niger Republic seeks Nigeria’s financial support for new military JTF

66

To combat the menace of terrorism in Nigeria’s Northwest, Niger Republic is seeking Nigeria’s financial support towards the establishment of another outfit similar to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

Niger President Mohammed Bazoum made the request on Thursday during his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Bazoum, Nigeria is critical to the establishment of a Northwest security outfit, especially as it currently bears larger responsibility for the operations and funding support for the MNJTF operating from the Lake Chad Basin.

He noted that the MNJTF created for the Northeast had brought relief within the region, saying banditry had become a common problem for the people within the Sahel region.

According to the Niger President, countries within the Sahel region would be delighted if Nigeria could support a replication of the outfit against bandits in the Northwest.

Read Also: Ex-NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu, cleared of money laundering charge

He said: “Nigeria agreeing to the establishment of a multinational security outfit in the Northwest would reduce the economic and financial burden of supporting such task on other  Sahel countries.

“Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is a model initiated by countries that are facing the same kind of security challenges and we want to replicate this kind of model in countries of Sahel; Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and so on.

“Why? Because this model has allowed us in the Lake Chad Basin to address a common threat. We are very much satisfied with the situation because it has allowed us to contain and we want to replicate same in other places.

“Evidently, if Nigeria accepts to do the same in the axis — Northwest — to fight banditry, we would gladly accept because, as you know, Nigeria almost entirely funded the MNJTF operations and if Nigeria decides to do the same in the Northwest axis, we will be very happy.

“That means it will reduce the economic and financial burden of the fight against these insurgents.”

Meanwhile, Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has backed the call by President of Niger Republic, Mohammed Bazoum, to change the strategy in the fight against insurgency.

He said: “We have to change strategy because like those of us that share border with Niger Republic, we have a joint task force between the Nigerian security and Nigerien security….we have provided some logistics and cash for them in order to ease their operation.

“What we are doing is that if we have any information about bandits that are coming from either Nigeria, then we will alert the Nigerien security to monitor and push them so that we can collectively fight these criminals.

“This is what we are doing day and night in Zamfara and Niger Republic.”

Leave a comment

Related Articles

It is unfair to assume all actors are wayward – Olayode Juliana (Toyo Baby)

Actress, Juliana Olayode better known as Toyo Baby has ventured into motivational...

Tragedy! Three Oyo State monarchs die in road crash

  Oyo State has lost three traditional rulers in a single day...

NNPC Ltd’s Kyari, U.S. Sen. Kerry, Moynihan, others brainstorm on climate issues at COP28 in UAE

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited,...

Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce inagurates Atelly as 18th President, unveils programmes

Ray Atelly has been sworn in as the 18th President of the...

NIPR inducts 327 new members in Abuja

No fewer than 327 people have been admitted as members of the...

Nigeria, Germany sign historic power deal to boost national grid by 12,000 MW

Nigeria and Germany have strengthened their bilateral relations with the signing of...

CBN to freeze accounts without BVN,NIN from March 2024

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Friday that it will...

Legia Fans Set Policeman On Fire, Injure Three Others

Legia football fans set a police officer on fire and injured three...

Ethiopian Airlines bans use of ‘Ghana- Must-Go’ bags by passengers

Ethiopia Airlines has prohibited the use of matted woven bags popularly known...

From playful antics to YouTube stardom with ‘Iya Barakat’ character: My success story – Bimbo Ademoye

Nigerian actress, Bimbo Ademoye, has opened up on the tenacity behind her...

Dare Art Alade celebrates 17 years of love with wife, Deola

In a heartwarming celebration of love, Nigerian singer, Dare Art Alade, took...

Update on Nigeria’s military helicopter crash: NAF confirms incident, gives details

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its MI-35P helicopter crashed...

Just in: Kogi INEC Resident Commissioner Escapes Death By Hair’s Breadth

In the aftermath of the off-cycle governorship election in Kogi State with...

Breaking: Military helicopter crash lands, explodes in Port Harcourt

A Nigeria Air Force helicopter has crash landed at the NAF Base,...

FCTA demolishes illegal oil refining warehouse in Mabushi, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has discovered and demolished an illegal...

Procurement Phase for Port Harcourt Refinery 98% Complete – MD

The Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Mr Ibrahim Onoja, has...

Tinubu confirms Mrs Adepoju as Comptroller-General of Immigration Service

President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the appointment of Mrs Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju...

Every woman possesses witchcraft’s spirit – HRM Ooni of Ife

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ọjájá II, on Thursday played...