Little groups
There are little groups [of Boko Haram members] scattered throughout east Nigeria, on the border with Cameroon. It is within our power to definitively overcome Boko Haram.”
“The war will be short. With the setting up of the regional force, it will be over by the end of the year,” Deby added, referring to a new five-country force aimed at ending Boko Haram’s bloody six-year Islamist insurgency that he said would be “operational in a few days”.
Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria have all pledged troops toward the new force. Deby further claimed that Boko Haram was no longer led by the fearsome Abubakar Shekau and that his successor was open to talks.
Terrorist acts
“There is someone apparently called Mahamat Daoud who is said to have replaced Abubakar Shekau and he wants to negotiate with the Nigerian government.
“On my part, I would advise not to negotiate with a terrorist,” Deby, whose country has been spearheading the regional fightback against Boko Haram, said.
While claiming progress in the fight against the jihadists, who have repeatedly hit border areas of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, and wrought havoc in north-east Nigeria, Deby admitted that suicide bombers still posed a threat.
