China pledges help to Nigeria’s hunt for Boko Haram militants
Premier Li Keqiang has pledged to assist Nigeria in its fight against Islamic militant group Boko Haram in what could be a rare anti-terror operation jointly conducted by the United States, European powers and China.
Premier Li Keqiang has pledged to assist Nigeria in its fight against Islamic militant group Boko Haram in what could be a rare anti-terror operation jointly conducted by the United States, European powers and China.
Li promised to provide “any useful information acquired by China’s satellites and intelligence services,” according to President Goodluck Jonathan after their talks in the capital Abuja on Wednesday.
The visiting premier did not give details on Chinese assistance to the country that has the largest economy in Africa but merely vowed to “oppose and fight terrorism”.
His pledge came as the US, Britain and France said they would send specialist teams to Nigeria to assist the Nigerian armed forces. Boko Haram’s recent attacks have caused a global outcry over the kidnapping of over 250 girls during the last month near the country’s border with Cameroon.
China could provide satellite imagery and equipment such as night vision goggles to the Nigerian military to help it monitor militant groups in convoys in the desert terrain of northeastern Nigeria, said Jacob Zenn, an Africa analyst at the Jamestown Foundation.