by Kolapo Olapoju
The Defence Headquarters has refuted claims by a section of the media insinuating that foreign troops operating in Nigeria against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, were violating the territorial integrity of the nation.
In a statement posted on the official website of the military on Tuesday, February 3, the Defence authorities stated that the involvement of troops from Chad, Niger and Cameroon had not in any way compromised the country.
The statement said that as opposed to the assertions that the foreign troops were moving into parts of the North-East without authorisation from the Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Forces were indeed in charge of the planning and implementation of the campaign within the country.
It said: “The Multinational Joint Task Force in which Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad have contingents that are part of the ongoing onslaught against terrorists in this region. The countries that make up the Lake Chad Basin Commission also had some understanding, which now enables a massive move against terrorists from all angles.”
“Contrary to the impression being pushed in some quarters, it is the Nigerian forces that planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria; not the Chadian Forces as is being propagated by some media. For instance, Chadian forces have been deployed in Baga Sola, which is a Chadian territory.”
“There have been some joint deployments and patrols around Kirawa, Ashgashiya and other locations in borders of Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad as part of these operations. Chadians and others are however keying into and working in concert with the overall plan for an all-round move against the terrorists as agreed. Nigeria’s territorial integrity remains intact,” the statement added.
