US plans three strategies against Boko Haram

Posted by admin American Politics, Boko Haram, Latest Politics Wednesday, May 7th, 2014

By Uduma Kalu, with agency reports

LAGOS-The United States plans to use three channels to attack the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko haram.

A UK newspaper, Telegraph said this following the video showing Shekau, the sect leader threatening to sell the abducted schoolgirls.

The newspaper which said the West may use drones to tackle the dreaded sect, quoted a US official with direct access to intelligence reports saying that Nigeria and US are sharing intelligence.

Meanwhile, the Islamic militant sect, Boko Haram seems to have acquired more sophisticated armoury for their deadly operations.

Also, yesterday, the Boko Haram members took over Gamboru Ngala, a Borno town with neighbouring Cameroon driving in armoured cars, witnesses said.

The AFP report did not say whether the the scores of Boko Haram gunmen riding in armoured vehicles killed anybody. It however said the militants razed the remote northeast Nigeria town and opened fire on residents who tried to flee into neighbouring Cameroon.

“They have burnt the market, customs office, police station and almost every shop in the town and killed many people but I can’t say how many,” said Musa Abba, a resident of Gamboru Ngala in an account supported by several others. “They have taken over the whole town.”

According to the Telegraph, Shekau’s threats to sell the abducted girls may increase pressure for West to use drone planes in search.

The United States government has established a drone base in neighbouring Niger Republic which is within striking distance of Northern Nigeria.

Already, is sharing intelligence with Nigeria to help in the search, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the situation said.

“We are sharing intelligence that may be relevant to this situation. You are going to see a focus on this in all three channels of government: diplomatic, intelligence and military,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The scope and scale of the attack is worrisome because it shows the “brazen” lengths Boko Haram will go to and suggests a planning and logistics capability for a large-scale operation, the official said.

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