The Federal Government has asked neighbouring Niger for support in a week-old offensive against Islamist insurgent bases in its semi-desert frontier region, underlining moves towards West African cooperation against jihadists seen as a cross-border threat.
Concerns grew particularly after Islamist militants associated with al Qaeda seized the north of Mali last year and were dislodged only after French-led military intervention.
The Federal Government declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states last week before unleashing forces on well-armed and determined Boko Haram militants. It claimed some early successes on Monday.
Nurudeen Muhammed, minister of state for foreign affairs II, delivered the request for help from President Goodluck Jonathan to his Nigerien counterpart, Mahamadou Issoufou, late on Monday in Niamey.
“We currently have military operations under way in Nigeria in three federal states to combat terrorism and we would like to have Niger’s support in the common fight against these terrorists”, Muhammed told Niger state television.
