The Chairman of the Nigerian chapter of the Nigeria-Cameroon Trans-Border Security Committee, Major General Babatunde Samuel, on Thursday said both countries are working out the modalities for joint border patrol to curb the activities of Boko Haram insurgents along the border.
He disclosed this while submitting its committee report to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed in Abuja. The Minister said the report will be forwarded to President Goodluck Jonathan for urgent action.
According to the chairman, the committee has discovered several porous routes being explored by the insurgents to carry out their nefarious activities.
He said the committee identified maritime axis, mountains, roads, rivers, waterways and streams as safe havens and routes for criminal activities.
Maj Gen. Samuel spoke further, “On the issue of porous common borders between Nigeria and Cameroon, which stretches about 2000km from Lake Chad to the Atlantic Ocean, the committee noted the predominant threat to our security which includes kidnapping, piracy, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalisation, smuggling as well as environmental degradation.
“Other notable threats with negative economic consequences include terrorism, hostage taking, illegal fishing, human and drug trafficking and proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The committee identified the maritime axis, mountains, roads and rivers, waterways and streams that are routes for criminal activities.”
On the proposed joint patrol, he said “The detail of the expected joint-patrol cooperation with Cameroon can be found in the main report, including persuading Cameroon to join the multi-national joint task force under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission,” he said.
The committee also recommended that government should enhance the standard of living of residents of the border communities by providing them with certain economic facilities and infrastructural establishments such as schools, hospitals, potable water, farming and fishing equipment and trans-border markets.
These infrastructures, the committee noted would go a long way in bringing the governments of both countries closer to the border communities and encourage them to cooperate with the security forces to promote peaceful co-existence and development in the areas.
