President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that Nigeria will lend a helping hand to South Sudan in fighting insurgency, and restoring cohesion to the country.
A statement by Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesman, said Buhari made the promise on Friday at State House, Abuja, when he received in audience, Hon. Albino Mathom Ayuel, Special Envoy of President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan.
He told the Special Envoy of the situation this administration met on the ground in the North East in 2015, and how great strides have been taken in comparison with present days.
“We will study your situation, and see how we can help,” Buhari said.
The Special Envoy had intimated his host about the situation in his country, particularly how an insurgent group, “just like your Boko Haram here kills, maims and destroys.” He then appealed for “close collaboration on security, particularly the training of our forces, since you have experience in this area.”
Mr Albino Ayuel said South Sudan was keen on ending the insurgent activities, “hence this appeal to our big brother.”
Under President Buhari’s government, Nigeria has continued to witness heightened insecurity across states of the federation.
Although terrorists’ attacks in the Nigerian North-East, which Buhari met upon his assumption to office as president in 2015 seem to have abated, Nigeria has, however, arguably had more security challenges under Buhari’s administration.
The activities of killer herdsmen across the country, and bandits’ attacks in the North-West and North Central part of Nigeria, have remained a nightmare to the people and an albatross to the current government.