MNJTF can eradicate Boko Haram – Idris Deby

The Chadian leader said terrorism remained an issue in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel region of Africa because the MNJTF had not been carrying out enough required operations.

The President of Chad, Marshal Idris Deby Itno, has expressed optimism that the armies of the four countries under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) can eradicate the Boko Haram insurgents.

The Chadian President spoke Saturday while fielding questions from State House reporters after a one-day official visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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The Chadian leader said terrorism remained an issue in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel region of Africa because the MNJTF had not been carrying out enough required operations.

According to him, he discussed the situation at the MNJTF with President Buhari, saying a situation where the joint military outfit embarks on just one operation in a whole year had made the fight difficult and defeating the terrorists rather impossible.

Itno voiced optimism that with the new strategies being deployed and new officers with fresh ideas being assigned to take over commands at both national and regional levels, the menace of the various terror groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State, West African Province (ISWAP), should be addressed permanently.

He further said a number of important issues including the challenges facing Nigeria and Chad were discussed at the bilateral meeting.

He added that the meeting also discussed various bilateral relations between the two countries and how to strengthen those bilateral relations.