Military chiefs of Boko Haram affected countries hold first meeting

The Chiefs of Staff of the Armies of Lake Chad countries (Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon) met on Friday in Diffa in southeastern Niger to assess their operations against the terrorist group Boko Haram.

“This meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the Armies of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon is to assess their operations against the terrorist group Boko Haram,” the Nigerien national radio, Voice of the Sahel announced.

The Nigerian General Lamidi Adeosun, who commands the Joint Multinational Force made up of armies of the four countries, also participated in the meeting, it was announced.

This meeting, which is the first of its kind, comes a month after the deadly Boko Haram attack on military positions in Bosso, Niger, near the border with Nigeria, in which 26 soldiers including two Nigerians were killed. Several civilians were also killed.

According to Nigerien state television, the country’s Chief of Staff of the army, General Seyni Garba encouraged and supported the troops of the joint force stationed in the area on Tuesday during the celebration of the end of Ramadan.

The 8700 strong force was set up to give additional support to Nigeria as it battled Boko Haram in the region. The Islamists however went beyond the borders to attack neighbouring countries.