Russian Government Offers Support To Nigeria In War Against Boko Haram

The Russian minister of foreign affairs, Sergey Lavrov, said his country had resolved to commit more effort and attention to issues that would improve security and stability in Nigeria and other African countries, the Sun reports.

The Russian government has offered to support Nigeria in the war against Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in the country.

Lavrov made the statement at a joint press conference with Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, shortly after a meeting in Moscow.

The Russian envoy said Russia cannot afford to take passive stand on the activities of Boko Haram and terrorist activities in Nigeria . “We will continue to support steps taken by Nigerian government in the fight against Boko Haram," he pledged. “Russian is consistently promoting solution to African problems. “We want to eliminate instability on the continent." Levrov said the meeting he had with Onyeama focused on issues not only in Nigeria but also Syria , Libya and Middle East. He said: “Solutions to the problems in these areas can only be achieved through inclusive dialogue”

He also said the meeting discussed political and economic issues that affect the two countries. “We have agreed that we should speed up processes on political and economic agreement. "We discussed regional and global agenda.

“We have agreed to coordinate our efforts within the UN on mutually beneficial issues”, the Russian foreign minister stated. On his part, Onyeama who is currently on a working visit to Russia ahead of the Africa Day in Moscow, urged the international community to step up concern and support Nigeria in the fight against insurgency. Meanwhile, a mass tragedy was averted on Tuesday, May 30, in Maiduguri, Borno state, when a lone bomber was shot dead by soldiers before he could detonate his bomb.

According to an eye-witness, the bomber was shot dead as he attempted to penetrate and cause mayhem at the Giwa military barracks in Maiduguri. The incident occurred just as a burial ceremony for five Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s), who were killed by Boko Haram, was being carried out by their colleagues. 

The victims were previously residents of the Balle Shuwari community, which is about 5km from Giwa Barracks. In the video below, the Nigerian Air Force gives an update on operations against Boko Haram in 2017.