President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday in Abuja welcomed greater support for the war against terrorism from the country’s neighbours.
Jonathan spoke at an audience with Mr Emmanuel Ngondet, a Special Envoy of President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said in a statement.
Abati quoted the president as applauding the renewed commitment of Niger, Chad, Benin Republic and Cameroon to joining forces with Nigeria to rid the West African sub-region of terrorism and violent extremism.
According to him, Jonathan reiterated his view that terrorist attacks on one country must be seen as an affront to all civilised nations.
He said the president called for an even stronger and more effective regional, continental and global alliance against terrorism and its perpetrators.
“Boko Haram and similar terrorist groups kill people indiscriminately hiding under religious beliefs that are not found in any of the Holy Books.
“They do not represent any civilised and rational people.
“Civilised and rational people of the world who are in the clear majority must therefore join forces to confront and defeat them,” Abati quoted him as saying.
Jonathan thanked Ondimba for Gabon’s pledge to support Nigeria’s fight against insurgency.
He assured him of Nigeria’s total commitment to prosecuting the war against terrorism to a successful conclusion, Abati added.
Ngondet, who is Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that his country welcomed the decision to form a multinational force that would confront terrorism.
He said that Gabon shared Nigeria’s position that Boko Haram’s activities have no basis in religion.
He assured Jonathan of the support of his country and others in the Central African sub-region in fighting terrorism, the president’s aide said.
