Senior military officers from Nigeria and Cameroon have started brainstorming on how to improve upon the security of the two countries’ borders in the efforts to crush the Boko Haram terrorist sect that has for years spread death and misery in both countries.

The coordinating conference on Nigeria-Cameroon trans-border military operations held yesterday at the Defence Intelligence Agency in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, was jointly inaugurated by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and his Cameroonian counterpart, Lieutenant General Meka Rene Claude.

The two Defence Chiefs had earlier met at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, in the bid to work out modalities on areas of cooperation between the two Armed Forces to tackle the terrorism challenge faced by both Nigeria and Cameroon.

Receiving Lt.-Gen. Rene Claude in his office, Air Chief Marshal Badeh pointed out that in the interest of mutual national security of both nations, their Armed Forces need to forge ahead together in order to harness available areas of cooperation for the protection of their people. He also called for regular joint military training exercises, which, he emphasised, would be beneficial to both countries as it would avail them the opportunity to learn from each other, thereby improving their capabilities and relationship.

In his remarks, Lt.-Gen. Rene Claude called for collaboration between both nations’ military, adding that this collaborative effort should be a continuous process, since both countries have many areas of commonality. He pledged his country’s support to the Nigerian Armed Forces in the war against terrorism.

•Photo, courtesy of Defence Headquarters, Abuja, shows Air Chief Marshal Badeh discussing with visiting Lt.-Gen. Rene Claude . . . yesterday in his office.