ECOWAS vows to fight Boko Haram

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it is taking measures to further cooperate with Central African countries in its fight against terrorism amid deadly militancy by the Takfiri militant group, Boko Haram, in Nigeria.

The decision was announced in a final communiqué of an extraordinary security summit held in Ghana.

Nigeria says it is impossible to crush the militants without the help of its central African neighbors.

Abuja says the militants flee to these countries at the time of military pursuit. It has also accused Cameroon of not doing enough to help defeat Boko Haram Takfiri group.

The ECOWAS decision was made after Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger declared war against the Takfiri group.

Meanwhile, Nigerian protesters have called on the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to stop violence across northern parts of the country.

The appeal was made on Friday in the capital, Abuja, during a demonstration against the abduction of schoolgirls by the Boko Haram.

On Thursday, the Nigerian president promised to secure the release of over 200 schoolgirls held by the Takfiri group. They have threatened to sell the girls into slavery.

The kidnapping, which took place in the remote northeastern town of Chibok in mid-April, has triggered an international outcry as well as protests in Nigeria, piling pressure on the government to free the girls.

Over the past four years, violence in North Africa’s most populous country has claimed the lives of 3,600 people, including killings by the security forces.