Off the wire
• UN chief welcomes renewal of UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire for a final period  • U.S. stocks end lower on BOJ's decision, data  • Tanzania creates advisory bureau on oil and gas utilization  • U.S. stocks end lower on BOJ's decision, data  • Oil prices keep rising on weaker U.S. dollar  • Chicago grains higher on weaker U.S. dollar;soybeans slightly lower  • UK digital business leaders oppose Brexit: survey  • One Azerbaijani civilian killed, 8 wounded by Armenian forces: Azerbaijani official  • 33 rescued lions to be transferred from Peru to South Africa  • U.S. dollar drops on BOJ decision  
You are here: 　 Home

Nigeria says regional force will patrol Gulf of Guinea

Xinhua, April 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

A multi-national task force will soon be formed to patrol the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

Buhari revealed the move on Thursday during talks with French Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

He said the patrols would boost ongoing efforts to improve security in the region, and curb crude oil theft and piracy.

A regional force of troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin is battling Islamist group Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria.

Buhari reiterated his pledge to protect Nigeria from Boko Haram, which has killed over 10,000 people since 2009.

"We are determined to secure all of our territory effectively. We are doing our best and our troops are now operating in the Sambisa Forest (in northeast Nigeria)," he said. Endit