Niger soldiers ‘may never return to Baga’

The government of Niger says its troops are unlikely to return to Baga, the latest community in Borno state, to have fallen under the control of Boko Haram.

Until the attack, which led to casualties on the sides of both the insurgents and security forces, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) was coordinating its operations from its headquarters in Baga.

MNJTF was established in 1998 to checkmate banditry activities and also facilitate free movement of the member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission across their common border.

But speaking to the BBC on Friday, Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s foreign minister, alleged that that his country had withdrawn its security forces as far back as October.

“We have 50 soldiers there and decided to withdraw them after Boko Haram captured Malamfatori town in October and continued to operate in the area with impunity,” he said.

“As you know, Baga is under the control of Boko Haram terrorists and unless the town is recaptured from them, we will not send back our troops.

“But we are still determined to work with our neighbours Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria to contain the situation – it is a problem for us all.”

In an earlier interview with journalists, Alex Badeh, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, corroborated Bazoum’s claim.

“They have not pulled out of multinational force because we have held several meetings,” he said in response to a question.

“They are still part of the multinational force. What has been happening is that they have not contributed troops to the point of Baga.

“Chad has people on their own side but I believe they have withdrawn. Niger had people with us; they too withdrew and left Nigeria only at the multinational force headquarters.”

Following series of attacks, Baga has become deserted. Musa Bukar, a senior government official in the area, said on Thursday that the insurgents burnt down almost the entire town, killing “more than 2,000″ people in two raids that were only days apart.

He added that slain bodies were scattered over the streets of Baga, while the entire town had literally been burnt down.