TheCable

As part of plans to effectively tackle the ongoing insurgency in Nigeria, President Francois Hollande of France has offered to host an African security summit that would focus on the Boko Haram militants.

Hollande made the offer through a telephone conversation with his Nigerian counterpart.

“I suggested, with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, a meeting of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries,” he told BBC during an official visit to Azerbaijan.

“If the countries agree, it should take place next Saturday.”

The summit is to be attended by Cameroon, Niger and Chad; while the European Union, United States, as well as United Kingdom are also likely to attend.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, has assured the international community that his country would provide all sorts of assistance to Nigeria towards rescuing the kidnapped Chibok girls, but would not send troops to take part in the military operation against the insurgents.

“I rang the Nigerian president to offer anything that would be helpful, and we agreed to send out a team that includes some counter-terrorism and intelligence experts to work alongside the bigger American team that’s going out there,” said Cameron.