Boko Haram crisis: UN 'not needed against Nigerian militants'

 

Nigeria's army has so far failed to contain the insurgency during the state of emergency

Boko Haram

Nigeria does not need the help of UN or African Union troops to take on Boko Haram, the country's national security adviser has told the BBC.

Sambo Dasuki said Nigeria, and its neighbours Niger, Chad and Cameroon, were in a "good shape to address the issue" of the Islamist insurgency.
He acknowledged the militants were a "real security threat" and said that close to 50% of Nigeria's army was now deployed to the north-east.
Boko Haram took up arms in 2009.
It says it is fighting to create an Islamic state.
Since the government declared a state of emergency 20 months ago in three north-eastern states to deal with the insurgency, the group has strengthened and now controls several towns, where it has declared a caliphate.
The militants gained worldwide notoriety after kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls in April last year - who have yet to be rescued.