Cameroon has pledged to provide 2,450 troops to join the multinational force to combat Boko Haram. The country has also named General Nka Valere as deputy to the commander of the force.
Military spokesperson Colonel Didier Badjeck, who issued a statement from Cameroon's president, Paul Biya Friday night, says the decision to send 2,450 troops follows a commitment Cameroon made July 11 at a summit of heads of state and defense ministers that took place in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
He said Cameroon can not be indifferent to the plight and cries of distress from Africans who have been victims of obscurantist groups that know only violence. He added that Cameroon will never allow people who claim they are serving God but practice hate to operate.
Colonel Badjeck said the troops were already at the disposal of officials of the joint forces. Cameroon initially pledged to contribute 750 troops.
During his visit to Cameroon last July, Nigeria's new president, Muhammadou Buhari, said he will collaborate with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin to stop Boko Haram's six-year-old insurgency in the shortest possible time and called for trust and confidence among countries that are contributing troops.
President Biya also appointed General Nka Valere, presently serving as Cameroon's military attaché for the central African nation's high commissioner in Nigeria, as deputy to General Iliya Abbah, the commander of the multinational joint forces. They will lead a force of 8,700 troops.
