UN chief backs African force to fight Boko Haram

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday welcomed an African Union proposal to set up a regional five-nation force of 7 500 troops to fight Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamist militants.

Support for the initiative, announced at an African Union summit being held in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, came hours after the Chadian military said three soldiers and 123 militants were killed in two days of fighting with a Chadian army contingent in northern Cameroon.

"I welcome the decision of the AU and regional countries to establish an MJTF (Multinational Joint Task Force) against Boko Haram," he told reporters on the sidelines of the summit.

'Unspeakable brutality'

"They have committed unspeakable brutality. Those terrorists should be addressed with a regional and international co-operation. Not a single country, even the regional countries, can handle this alone," he said. "The United Nations is ready to fully co-operate with the African Union."

Nigeria's Buhari vows to end graft

Lagos - Nigeria's presidential challenger Muhammadu Buhari pledged to cheering crowds in opposition stronghold Lagos that he would tackle the country's three greatest ills - insecurity, inequality and corruption.

Africa's most populous nation votes on 14 February for either Buhari of the All Progressives Congress or President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling People's Democratic Party.

Corruption

It will be the former military ruler's fourth attempt at the presidency, but this time he enjoys much broader support than before.

As head of the military government between 1983 and 1985 he was seen as tough on corruption and in his dealings with rebellions and armed criminals.

Africa to send 7 500 troops to fight Boko Haram

African leaders have agreed to send 7 500 troops to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria, an African Union official said Saturday.

The move came after the council urged heads of state to endorse the deployment of troops from five West African countries to fight the terror group, said the head of the African Union's Peace and Security Council, Samil Chergui.

African leaders who are members of the 54-nation African Union are meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for a two-day summit that ends Saturday.

Vote For APC and You will See Real Development – Buhari

As part of his nationwide campaign tour, the APC presidential nominee Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate Yemi Osinbajo, were in Lagos to reach out to voters before the 14th February election date.

The delegation’s first stop was at the palace of the Oba of Lagos State, Oba Rilwan Akiolu who received them warmly and referred to the morning downpour as "a rain of calm and blessings" for the APC party.

After the visit, they journeyed to the rally location at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, enjoying an open air bus ride that conveyed them from Lagos Island. At the rally, the event was led by Senator Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Hon. Dino Melaye, members of the APC campaign council.

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