Jonathan says al-Qaeda now in Nigera

President Goodluck Jonathan says the Boko Haram insurgency is “clearly” al-Qaeda operating in Nigeria.

He was speaking at end of the African regional security summit in Paris, France, hosted by French President Francois Hollande.

“The Boko Haram that said no to Western education in 2002 is not the same Boko Haram operating today,” he said at the press briefing.

He said al-Qaeda is now operating in central and western Africa and it is a threat to the region, not just Nigeria.

“Boko Haram is no longer a local terrorist group, it is operating clearly as an Al-Qaeda operation, it is an Al-Qaeda of West Africa,” Jonathan said.

“We have shown our commitment for a regional approach. Without West African countries coming together we will not be able to crush these terrorists.”

Jonathan also clarified reports that Cameroon was not co-operating with Nigeria.

“Cameroon has in the past helped to intercept arms meant for terror operations in Nigeria,” he said, explaining that owing to international laws, Nigerian troops cannot cross the border to Cameroon to fight the terrorists “but that does not mean Cameroon is not co-operating with us”.

He said 20,000 Nigerian troops are currently involved in the search for the kidnapped girls and that everything will be done to rescue them.

Also in attendance were President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, President Paul Biya of Cameroon and President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic.

They all addressed the media and promised a joint operation to tackle the insurgency which they all agreed was a threat to the region.

President Idriss Deby of Chad said Nigeria’s neighboring countries were ready to wage war against Boko Haram.

There are fears that the group will destabilise more than Nigeria.

“There is determination to tackle this situation head on … to launch a war, a total war on Boko Haram,” he said.

The French president also said Boko Haram was now a threat to west and central Africa.

He said they are linked to other militants, including al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

“Boko Haram is a major threat for all of western Africa and now central Africa with proven links to AQIM and other terrorist organizations,” Hollande said.