Buhari’s Decision to Seek Foreign Assistance Against Boko Haram is Necessary- APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday, praised President Muhammadu Buhari, on his decision to seek foreign assistance in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

In a statement read by National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Abuja, terrorism is a global problem that can be tackled if nations worked together rather than face the problem alone. He expressed his disappointment that the opposition condemned the President’s decision since the battle against the insurgents has extended as far as its neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Chad and Niger.


”Boko Haram, which started off as a Nigerian problem, has now assumed a regional dimension, affecting many countries in West Africa. Therefore, any solution to the crisis, if it is to endure, must be regional in nature, with Nigeria taking the lead.”

“Buhari’s trip to Niger and Chad, two of the countries worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency, showed that he understands the regional dimension that the insurgency has assumed, and that for any effort by Nigeria to yield positive results, it must seek the cooperation of its neighbouring countries”.

”It is baffling that some opposition politicians wanted Nigeria to go it alone against Boko Haram, even as the terrorist group has taken its battle beyond the shores of Nigeria, to such countries as Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

“It is common knowledge that the terrorists use these countries as launch pads for their attacks against Nigeria, and vice versa, and that they routinely engage in cross-boundary raids. “It is common knowledge that Boko Haram’s tentacles have spread as far as Mali, the home base of the Movement for the Unity and Jihad in West Africa, a splinter group of the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

“It is no longer a secret that Boko Haram has now affiliated itself to the Islamic State, seeing itself as the West African chapter of the terror group. “How then can Nigeria effectively deal with Boko Haram without seeking the assistance of other concerned countries?” he said.

The party assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Army is capable of fending off any attack by the insurgents but alliance with Nigeria’s neighbouring countries is necessary to win the battle against Boko Haram.