From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja and Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari disclosed yesterday that a multi-national taskforce will soon be established to patrol the waters of the Gulf of Guinea.

He said this when he met with the French Minister of Defence, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, yesterday.

The president said patrols by the multinational taskforce would augment and boost ongoing efforts to improve security in the Gulf and curb crude oil theft and piracy.

His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said Buhari and Le Drian also discussed ongoing French support for the Federal Government’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

President Buhari expressed his government’s appreciation of the assistance and support of France and other G7 countries, which he said, has helped Nigeria achieve significant successes against Boko Haram.

“When we got into office in May, last year, Boko Haram was effectively controlling at least 14 local government areas. But, now, it is no longer so and they have resorted to attacking soft targets with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). We are determined to secure all of our territory effectively. We are doing our best and our troops are now operating in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.

Drian assured President Buhari that France would continue to assist Nigeria to overcome Boko Haram and said all terrorists must be seen as common enemies of the free world.

Meanwhile, military troops have intercepted Boko Haram food couriers on donkeys in Damboa Local Government area, south of Borno State.

The insurgents’ food couriers who had attempted to cross the recently reopened Maiduguri-Damboa highway towards their Sambisa camp with food items on their donkeys and a wheel barrow early Wednesday morning, were sighted by vigilant troops in the area, a vigilante member who pleaded anonymity told Daily Sun yesterday He said the insurgents however abandoned their donkeys and wheel barrow as soon as they sighted military troops and fled into the bush. “The Boko Haram men fled and abandoned their foodstuffs and donkeys. I saw some of the donkeys already killled. At least, they won’t get food to commit another violent act again,” the CJTF said. He said the wheelbarrow which the insurgents was using in transporting the food items was also set ablaze. Daily Sun could not get the military confirmation as at press time.