The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has expressed support for the establishment of a Multi-National Joint Task Force to fight Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East region. Ban made the expression while addressing newsmen on Saturday, on the sidelines of ongoing African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the AU Peace and Security Council at its 484th meeting, held on January 29, at the level of Heads of State and Government, adopted a resolution to establish an initial 7,500 troops to combat the Boko Haram insurgency.
The resolution was sequel to a proposal presented to the council by countries in the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Republic of Benin. The LCBC countries – Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad – made the proposal for the continent to raise troops that could defeat the terrorist group currently expanding to borders of Cameroon and Chad.
It is believed that no fewer than 13,000 persons had been killed, while more than one million others displaced, since the violent sect began attacks on villages and towns in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in 2009.
Ban said, “I strongly support the AU’s decision to establish a Multi-National Joint Task Force, which is consistent with the UN Human Rights Policies. “Regional and international efforts must focus on protecting communities in Northern Nigeria and across borders. “The more than one million internally displaced people and refugees must be able to return home. We must stop the advance of this terrorist group.
“Once again, I repeat my call for immediate and unconditional release of those who have been abducted, particularly the girls from Chibok.”
He noted that collaboration on peace and security had been one of the most important elements of the UN’s partnership with the AU. The UN chief added that more than 80 per cent of UN peacekeeping operations were deployed in Africa. “The UN Assembly in 2006 adopted a global counter terrorism strategy. Under this, we have established implementation task force and I, myself, established counter-terrorism centres,’’ he said.
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