President of the Republic of Benin, Mr Boni Yayi, has promised to contribute 800 troops to a regional force intended to combat the Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram.
Yayi made the announcement on Saturday, during a visit by President Muhammadu Buhari, which coincided with Benin’s independence anniversary.
“This is an opportunity for Benin to express solidary with countries on the frontline against the Islamic sect, Boko Haram. This solidary will result in the sending of a contingent of 800 men from Benin’s army,” Yayi said.
Deployment of the regional force has been delayed for lack of funds.
At a meeting in Cameroon in February, Nigeria and a group of neighbouring countries had agreed to deploy around 8,700 troops, with Benin pledging 250.
In another development, the Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Tukur Buratai, has mandated the new commander of Multi National Joint Taskforce (MNJTF), Major-General Illiasju Abba, to ensure location of the Chibok girls and other captives in the Boko Haram enclave and rescue them.
Buratai was speaking at the handing over ceremony of the command of the MNJTF to his successor, while he tasked the commander to ensure that the Sambisa forest was fully bombarded and all captives rescued.
He also charged the new commander to ensure that the headquarters of the MNJTF in Ndjamena, Niger, is properly established and coordinated, so that the mandate to restore normalcy in the North-East and the sub-region could be accomplished.
Speaking after the handing over, General Abba described the formation of the taskforce involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad as the best thing that had happened to the sub-region, because if the initiative had been established long ago, Boko Haram would have been history.
