The President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi, on Tuesday promised to send 800 military men to help fight Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria’s north-east.
President Yayi made the pledge at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria in Abuja when both leaders held talks on the fight against the terrorist group that has its strong hold in north-east Nigeria.
Benin Republic, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic had set up a Multi-National Joint Task Force to strengthen inter-border security and reduce the free movement of terrorists within the nations’ borders.
Acknowledging President Yayi’s contribution to the war on terror, President Buhari said securing a healthy relationship with neighbouring countries was key to security and economic development.
Neighbourliness And Development
President Buhari reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining the existing bilateral relationship with Benin Republic and other countries within West Africa.
He said: “Such partnerships are essential for good neighbourliness and development”.
The Nigerian leader further expressed Nigeria’s readiness to host an Economic Community for West African States’ summit in about nine days where vital issues bothering on security and the economy would be discussed.
After he was sworn in as President of Nigeria in May, Buhari visited some neighbouring countries to seek closer ties that would further reduce the trans-border movement of Boko Haram terrorists.
