Defence Chiefs parley on new regional initiative to combat terrorism

Posted by News Express | 9 June 2015 | 3,852 times

A conference of Chiefs of Defence Staff of member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission holds today in Abuja. It is to be hosted by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Alex Badeh.

The meeting is to work out the processes for the operationalisation of the strategic directive for the immediate take off of the combined operation of the modified version of the Multi-National Joint Task Force in the campaign against terror in the region, Nigeria’s Defence Spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade, said yesterday.

“The meeting is Preparatory to the Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the LCBC member countries in furtherance of the multilateral discussion on counter terrorism operations in the sub-region,” Olukolade said in a statement in Abuja.

“Military delegation led by the Chiefs of Defence Staff as well as intelligence and security of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad are to participate in the meeting along with Benin Republic. The meeting will later brief the Ministers of Defence of the LCBC countries towards subsequent decisions on the immediate take off of the mission,” he further said, adding:

“The development is sequel to the recent parleys and contacts between Nigeria’s President and his counter-parts in the sub-region in the move to step up the fight against terror.”

•Photo shows Air Chief Badeh welcoming Chadian Defence Chief, Maj.-Gen. Brahim Seid Mahamat, during a previous parley in Abuja. They will be joined for today's meeting by their Nigerien and Cameroonian counterparts, as well as by intelligence and security of the four countries.

Source: News Express