BORNO: Zulum receives Cameroonian military delegation

. FG mulls collaboration to end insurgency

GOVERNOR Babagana Zulum on Thursday, received a delegation of the Cameroonian military at the Government House in Maiduguri, the state capital.

At the meeting, Zulum reiterated the need for collaborative efforts between Nigerian and Cameronian armies to defeat Boko Haram terrorists.

The Cameroonian military delegation was led by the 4th region joint military commander, General Saly Mohammadou.

He was accompanied by Commander Sector 1 Multinational Joint Task Force, General Bouba Dobekreo; Commander Fourth Gendarmerie, Brigadier General Essoh Jules-Cesar; GOC 7 Div Bridgdier, Gen. AK Ibrahim, among others.

Zulum in a statement said the Cameroonian military was in Nigeria to share experience and improve collaboration between forces of the two countries in the fight against insurgency in the Lake Chad region.

He said, “Cameroon and Nigeria, most of our people shares the same tradition and culture. Though the insecurity has affected all the countries in the Lake Chad region, all our economies have been affected. Therefore, there is need for us to come together and fight this insurgency.

“The issue of trans-border trade is very important, all of us know Banki. We are doing everything possible to reopen Banki market, we are planning to reopen Bama-Banki road. Let us support the security architectures, so that we can ensure free movement of our people.”

Zulum had earlier made six recommendations to the Federal Government to defeat insurgency.

The recommendations include the engagement of the services of the governments of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic as well as the services of mercenaries to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists.

The governor made the recommendations last weekend following the killing of 43 rice farmers by Boko Haram members.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State had said the Nigerian military is overstretched and overwhelmed and in ndeed of support from military forces of neighbouring countries.

Fayemi noted that troops from neighbouring countries in the Lake Chad region are well versed in what he described as “asymmetric war.”