Nigeria seeks French help to fight Islamists after massacre kills 43 students
After an attack by Boko Haram militants killed 43 students in Nigeria's northeast, the country's information minister calls on its African neighbours and France for support.
Nigeria on Tuesday issued an appeal to France and Abuja’s Francophone neighbours, especially Cameroon, to help it in the battle against Islamists, two days before a planned visit from French President Francois Hollande.
On the day suspected Boko Haram Islamists slaughtered 43 students as they slept, Nigeria’s information minister warned the attacks could harm French and other Western interests in West Africa if left unchecked.
“I think what we need is international co-operation from the French, from the French-speaking west African countries to work together to deal with this problem before it becomes a major problem for France, for western interests operating in west Africa,” Labaran Maku said.
“It will devastate French interests if we allow this terror to go on,” the minister told AIT television.
The comments came ahead of a planned visit by Hollande on Thursday and Friday to attend an international conference on security, peace and development in Africa and to celebrate the centenary of Nigerian unification.
Maku said much of the problem stemmed from its border with Cameroon and called for “increased partnership” with its northern neighbour.
“They strike. When we pursue them, they retreat into Cameroon.”