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Boko Haram crisis: UK meeting on Nigerian insecurity Boko Haram crisis: UK boosts Nigeria military aid
(about 1 hour later)
The UK is hosting a meeting about the security situation in north-eastern Nigeria and how to tackle the Islamist Boko Haram militants. The UK will increase its military and educational aid to help Nigeria tackle Boko Haram, Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced.
Since Boko Haram abducted more than 200 girls in April, foreign help has been offered to help end the insurgency. He said Nigeria's army would receive extra training, especially in counter-insurgency, and a million more children would be given schooling.
Correspondents say attacks have increased since the kidnappings. This is the latest promise of Western help since Boko Haram abducted some 200 schoolgirls in April.
Nigeria's Foreign Minister Aminu Wali will be attending the high-level gathering organised by his British counterpart William Hague. Since then, the Islamist group has stepped up its attacks.
It follows last month's summit in Paris where regional powers pledged to share intelligence and co-ordinate action against the group ands its five-year insurgency. Mr Hague was speaking at a summit in London.
It follows last month's summit in Paris where regional powers pledged to share intelligence and co-ordinate action against the group and its five-year insurgency.
Boko Haram has waged an increasingly bloody insurgency since 2009 in an attempt to create an Islamic state in Nigeria. Thousands of people have died in their attacks and the subsequent security crackdown.Boko Haram has waged an increasingly bloody insurgency since 2009 in an attempt to create an Islamic state in Nigeria. Thousands of people have died in their attacks and the subsequent security crackdown.
Analysis: BBC's Will Ross in Lagos Who are Boko Haram?
At the London summit on Boko Haram there will be more condemnation of the group which has killed at least 3,300 people this year alone. There will be more promises to form a united front against the militants. Who are Boko Haram?
But these words will make no immediate difference in the villages of north-east Nigeria where people are being killed every day. There are no quick fixes to this insurgency which has been brewing and boiling for years. Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
The Nigerian government says the military cannot be everywhere in order to defend people. That is true. But residents who have fled their homes in eastern Gwoza say more than a week after Boko Haram fighters started killing and torching homes, no soldiers had arrived. Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram
More troops are needed with better equipment and training, but that will take time. People in the villages near Chibok need help today. They talk of being abandoned by government and are sick and tired of running to hide in the bushes every night. They want to be given guns to defend themselves. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the London summit on ending sexual violence in conflict, co-hosted by Mr Hague and UN special envoy and actress Angelina Jolie.
"Since the appalling abductions of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok by Boko Haram, the international community has worked together closely to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism," Mr Hague said in a statement last week. Representatives from the US, the European Union, Canada and Nigeria's neighbours Benin, Chad, Cameroon and Niger also attended.
He said Thursday's ministerial meeting in London would build on agreements on intelligence sharing, co-ordinated border patrols and developing a regional count-terrorism strategy and would "consider further options to combat terrorism in northern Nigeria". Niger's Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum said that at the Paris summit it was decided that Chad's capital, N'Djamena, would be the headquarters for aircraft involved in surveillance and possibly "operations in the field". Nigeria's capital, Abuja, was chosen as the headquarters of the shared intelligence services.
The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the London summit on ending sexual violence in conflict, co-hosted by Mr Hague and UN special envoy and actress Angelina Jolie.
Representatives from the US, the European Union, Canada and Nigeria's neighbours Benin, Chad, Cameroon and Niger will also be attending.
Niger's Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum defended the slow progress in the fight against Boko Haram.
He said that at the Paris summit it was decided that Chad's capital, N'Djamena, would be the headquarters for aircraft involved in surveillance and possibly "operations in the field".
Nigeria's capital, Abuja, was also chosen as the headquarters of the shared intelligence services.
"For implementing these kind of decisions you need some time," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme, adding that he felt sure these measures would bear fruit in the next few weeks.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in May 2013 in the three northern states where Boko Haram is most active - Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in May 2013 in the three northern states where Boko Haram is most active - Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
The militants retaliated by stepping up their bombing campaign in cities and raiding small towns and villages.The militants retaliated by stepping up their bombing campaign in cities and raiding small towns and villages.
Many people have fled their homes - some over the borders to Cameroon, Chad and Niger.Many people have fled their homes - some over the borders to Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Correspondents says since the kidnapping of the girls from their boarding school in Borno state on 14 April, the attacks have become an almost daily occurrence.Correspondents says since the kidnapping of the girls from their boarding school in Borno state on 14 April, the attacks have become an almost daily occurrence.
A new report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council says 3,300 people have been killed by Boko Haram this year alone.A new report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council says 3,300 people have been killed by Boko Haram this year alone.
The UK, the US, China and France are among those countries to have sent teams of experts and equipment to help to locate the girls.The UK, the US, China and France are among those countries to have sent teams of experts and equipment to help to locate the girls.
But Nigeria's ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is downbeat about their chances of success.But Nigeria's ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is downbeat about their chances of success.
"I believe that some of them may never be released, we will still be hearing about them many years from now, even maybe decades from now," he told the BBC."I believe that some of them may never be released, we will still be hearing about them many years from now, even maybe decades from now," he told the BBC.
Who are Boko Haram?
Who are Boko Haram?
Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
Why Nigeria has not defeated Boko Haram