PRESIDENT Barack Obama has ordered the immediate deployment of 300 US troops to neighbouring Cameroon to help Nigeria in its ongoing war with Boko Haram terrorists who are fighting the government.  

In August, the US agreed to lift its restrictions on arms sales to Nigeria under the Leahy Law to enable the government purchase weapons with which to conduct the war against Boko Haram. Following a visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to Washington, the Obama administration agreed to not only supply Nigeria with equipment but to also offer intelligence on the terrorists' activities. 

Yesterday, Washington delivered on this promise by agreeing to send 300 troops and surveillance drones to Cameroon. President Obama said an advance force of about 90 military personnel began deploying into northern Cameroon on Monday with the consent of the Yaounde government. 

President Obama added: The troops will conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the region. These forces are equipped with weapons for the purpose of providing their own force protection and security and they will remain in Cameroon until their support is no longer needed.”

 These US troops will provide intelligence to a multi-national task force being set up to fight Boko Haram comprised of troops from Nigeria, Niger Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Benin Republic. According to US officials, the soldiers, equipped with Predator drones will initially be deployed to the city of Garoua in northern Cameroon not far from the Nigerian border. 

White House sources said the move was not in response to any changed assessment of threat in the region. At the moment, the US has no combat troops in Africa but has been increasing support to allies battling Boko Haram terrorists. 

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to fully crush the Boko Haram by the end of December this year and yesterday he received the commander of United States Africa Command, General David Rodriguez, at the presidential villa in Abuja. President Buhari said he remained fully confident that by the end of this year, Boko Haram’s ability to attack, seize, ravage and hold any Nigerian territory will have been completely obliterated. 

According to President Buhari, with greater support from his administration in terms of improved training, equipment, logistics and welfare, the Nigerian armed forces were well positioned to meet the December deadline which he gave to them to end the Boko Haram insurgency. He seized the opportunity of General Rodriquez’s visit to restate his appreciation of the US support for Nigeria’s efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency. 

President Buhari added: “We must thank the United States of America for sending training teams and equipment to us as the positive results of our collaboration are evident. Structured attacks by the insurgents have reduced and by the end of the year, we should see the final routing of Boko Haram as an organised fighting force.”

He, however, appealed for greater cooperation from the US in securing the Gulf of Guinea through which stolen Nigerian crude oil was shipped abroad. General Rodriguez said he was in the country to strengthen Nigeria/United States military relations and also explore further options for assisting the Multi National Joint Task Force established by Nigeria and her neighbours, to fight Boko Haram.