Benin sends 150 troops to regional force against Boko Haram

By Olanrewaju Kola

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria

Benin will deploy 150 troops to a regional, Nigeria-backed military coalition fighting Boko Haram and other extremist groups crisscrossing local borders.

A spokesman for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Nigerian army colonel Mohammed Dole, said Beninese Minister of Defense Yarou Robert Theophile had ordered the release of the first batch of 150 military personnel.

He said the Beninese official made the announcement during a visit by MNJTF commander, Maj. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun's to the country Monday.

Benin’s initial delay of troops had been attributed to "some logistical and equipment challenges," according to Col. Dole.

The soldiers will go to MNJTF headquarters in Ndjamena, Chad before the end of April 2016.

Leaders of five African countries sharing borders formed the military coalition against Boko Haram insurgents. However, only Cameroon, Chad and Niger have sent troops since late 2015 to join Nigerian forces at Ndjamena, the Chadian capital and headquarters of the force.