Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters today gave the assurance that the cooperation by countries making up the Lake Chad Region against Boko Haram terrorists has in no way compromised the territorial integrity of the country.

Media space has been awash with insinuations that troops from Cameroon, Chad and Niger have flooded the North-East parts of the country confronting the terrorists often without the knowledge and permission of Abuja.

However, in a statement on its blog defenceinfo.mil.ng, Defence Headquarters insisted that it is the Nigerian forces that planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria.

It stated, for instance, that most of the troops contributed by the three countries to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have been deployed to towns close to Nigerian boarders and are not actually operating from within Nigeria’s territory while those in Nigeria are fighting along Nigerian troops.

“Contrary to the impression being pushed in some quarters, it is the Nigerian forces that planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria; not the Chadian Forces as is being propagated by some foreign media,” the statement said.

It clarified that while it is true that these other countries are collaborating with Nigeria, their troops contributions are not as massive as to make the kind of impressions being peddled by sections of the press.

The message reads in full:

“The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in which Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad have contingents are part of the ongoing onslaught against terrorists in this region.

“The countries that make up the Lake Chad Basin Commission also had some understanding, which now enables a massive move against terrorists from all angles.

“Contrary to the impression being pushed in some quarters, it is the Nigerian forces that planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria; not the Chadian Forces as is being propagated by some media.

“For instance, Chadian forces have been deployed in Baga Sola, which is a Chadian territory.

“There have been some joint deployments and patrols around Kirawa, Ashgashiya and other locations in borders of Cameroun, Nigeria and Chad as part of these operations.

“Chadians and others are however keying into and working in concert with the overall plan for an all-round move against the terrorists as agreed.

“Nigeria’s territorial integrity remains intact.”

•Photo shows Defence Spokesman, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade.

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