TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived the Republic of Niger for discussions about the regional offensive against Boko Haram militants.

The president was received by Mahamadou Issoufou, his Nigerien counterpart, in Niamey, capital of Niger, in what is his first official trip since Friday when he was sworn into office.

Buhari told reporters that he was in Niger to relate with Issoufou on the strategies to adopt in the battle against insurgency.

“As said in my inaugural speech last week, we will collaborate with our neighbours to ensure peace and stability in our nations,” Buhari told a press conference.

“I renew my commitment to track Boko Haram into a corner, to destroy it. Five years of the presence of this evil sect is enough.

“On the issue of the Niger military positioned in cities of Nigeria, I think in the next four weeks we will be able to replace them with Nigerian forces so they can return to their country.”

Buhari also thanked Niger for hosting as many as 150,000 refugees who fled insecurity in Nigeria to the country.

Responding, Issoufou said his country was deeply committed to the quest of tackling insurgency.

“Niger is ready to finish with Boko Haram and protect its borders, its people and their property,” Issoufou said.

In his inaugural address, the president had commended neighbouring countries assisting Nigeria to tackle insecurity, saying: “Our neighbours in the sub-region and our African brethen should rest assured that Nigeria under our administration will be ready to play any leadership role that Africa expects of it.

“Here I would like to thank the governments and people of Cameroon, Chad and Niger for committing their armed forces to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria.”

Soldiers from Niger republic and other neighboruing countries have been part of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) fighting Boko Haram in the north-east.

As a result of Niger’s anti-terrorism work, its territories suffer frequent attacks by the insurgents. In February alone, Diffa, a border community in its southeastern part bordering Nigeria, was attacked thrice within four days.