TheCable

Soldiers from Chad and Niger republic have pulled out of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) headquarters in Baga, Borno state.

Alex Badeh, an air chief marshal and chief of defence staff, made this known on Tuesday while briefing journalists after an emergency meeting that President Goodluck Jonathan convened with security chiefs and the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, the states worst-hit by acts of insurgency in the northeast.

In attendance were Sambo Dasuki, national security adviser; Kenneth Minimah, a lieutenant-general and chief of army staff; Usman Jubrin, chief of naval staff; Adesola Amosu, an air marshal and chief of air staff; Ekpeyong Ita, director-general of the state security service; Suleiman Abba, inspector-general of police; and Ayo Oke, director-general of the national intelligence agency.

Also present were Namadi Sambo, the vice president; Bala Ngilari, governor of Adamawa; Ibrahim Gaidam, governor of Yobe; Bukar Abba Ibrahim, immediate past governor of Yobe; Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno; Abba Ahmed Gida, secretary to the state government; Ramalan Yero, governor of Kaduna; Mohammed Adoke, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice; Mohammed Gusau, minister of defence; and Anyim Pius Anyim, secretary to the government of the federation.

According to Badeh, Chadian and Nigerien troops had pulled out of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), following the attack on the task force base in Baga, Borno state. He said, though, that they were still part of the larger regional force.

In the attack on the military base very early on Saturday, troops from all three countries, as well as insurgents, lost their lives.

“No, they have not pulled out of multinational force because we have held several meetings,” he said in response to a question.

“They are still part of the multinational force. What has been happening is that they have not contributed troops to the point of Baga. Chad has people on their own side but I believe they have withdrawn. Niger had people with us; they too withdrew and left Nigeria only at the multinational force headquarters.”

Asked if Nigeria-Chad-Niger borders could be closed in view of reports that citizens of these countries are frequently recruited to Boko Haram’s fighting squad, he said: “I wish it could be closed, but how do you close such a very large border? And it is not for military to close border, anyway, or is it?”

He confirmed the Baga attack and assured the public that the military would recover the territory,

“Of course there was an attack. Don’t worry we are at work,” he said.

“We will take Baga back, but I can’t give you exactly what is going to happen.”

‎On what should Nigerians expect in the new year in terms of security, he said, “It will improve by God’s grace we are working”.

Meanwhile, ‎former governor of Yobe Bukar Abbah Ibrahim has kicked against the suggestion of border closure‎.

According to him, “A border of 1,500 kilometers from Yewa in Borno down to Kebbi how are you going to close that?”

Speaking on a similar challenge during his tenure, he said the insurgents though a small group were crushed by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo.