Again, Jonathan meets Chadian leader over Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday travelled to N’djamena, Chad for another meeting with the Chadian President, Idris Deby, to discuss how his country and Nigeria can collaborate to end the current insecurity challenge posed by the Boko Haram terrorist group back home.
The President had two months ago made an overnight trip to discuss same issue with Deby.
This second trip to the northern neighbouring country is coming on the heels of reports of alleged complicity of one of Deby’s aides in supplying the Boko Haram sect with arms and ammunition.
Although, details of the talks between the two leaders were not disclosed, presidency sources confirmed that ending the menace of Boko Haram was top on the agenda.
The Presidency is believed to be uncomfortable with reports of the allegation, which may have prompted the trip.
Both leaders he said are expected to come to terms on the reality on ground and find lasting solution to how best the excesses of the sect can be contained.
President Jonathan returned last night from the one-day visit.
A statement issued by Aso Rock after Jonathan returned to the Villa said he had reiterated the need for Nigeria and her neighbours to intensify joint actions and cooperation to win the war against terrorism and insurgency.
Speaking with reporters at the Presidential Palace in N’Djamena after a closed-door meeting with his Chadian counterpart, Jonathan confirmed that their talks focused mainly on security and economic cooperation.
The President told reporters that Boko Haram had a lot of external influence from outside Africa and it had become even more imperative for all countries in the region to work together to overcome terrorism and other criminal activities across their borders.
“If you look at the economies of Nigeria and Chad, both are linked. The Boko Haram people don’t take permission to move from Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria.
“If the countries do not cooperate, we will not find it easy to win the war, because when the heat is strong in one country, the criminals and terrorists will go to another one and hide.
“So we must work together and we are discussing along that line”, Jonathan had told reporters.
He recalled that his visit to Chad was the second in the last one month, noting that it underscored the importance of building a “robust relationship” between both countries to improve trade, economic and security ties.
He said that discussions between both countries on cooperation in the ICT sector were ongoing and expressed optimism that more proficient use of modern technology will help greatly to address economic and security challenges in the region.