President Muhammadu Buhari has hinted of plans to raise a multinational task force to patrol the Gulf of Guinea.
PHOTO: commons.wikimedia.org
President Muhammadu Buhari has hinted of plans to raise a multinational task force to patrol the Gulf of Guinea.
A statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, quoted the President as giving the assurance during an audience with the French Minister of Defence, Jean-Yves Le Drian, where he said the task force would augment and boost ongoing efforts to improve security in the Gulf as well as curb crude oil theft and piracy.
Buhari and Le Drian also discussed ongoing French support for the Federal Government’s moves to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
The President expressed his government’s appreciation of the assistance and support of France and other G7 countries, which he said, had helped Nigeria in achieving significant milestones in the anti-terror fight.
“When we got into office in May last year, Boko Haram was effectively controlling at least 14 local government areas. But now, it is no longer so, and they have resorted to attacking soft targets with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
“We are determined to secure all of our territories effectively. We are doing our best and our troops are now operating in the Sambisa Forest,” President Buhari told the French minister.
Le Drian pledged France’s continous assistance for the anti-insurgency war, noting that all terrorists must be seen as common enemies of the free world.
