They ended a workshop in Yaounde over the weekend on defining a common strategy for combatting the militants.

The authorities of Benin Republic and member States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, LCBC, are not leaving anything to chance in their efforts to contain attacks by the Boko Haram sect.

Rising from a four-day workshop that ended at the Yaounde Senior International War College on Friday, October 17, 2014, the participants, both military and civilian strategists, agred on a common strategy on fighting the militants. They also indicated their readiness for the Multinational Joint Task Force, which goes operational on November 1, 2014.

The details of the strategy were not made public so as not to give any undue advantage to the enemy. However, it was understood that the participating countries – Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Niger and Benin Republic – would deploy their contingents on the borders ready for action. The plan is also said to involve proposed activities on tackling socio-economic concerns in conflict zones.

Speaking at the close of the gathering, the Secretary General in the Cameroon Ministry of Defence, Hamadou Vindjedou, recalled that Boko Haram was the greatest security threat in the sub-region. He justified his statement by pointing to the fact that the day experts began meeting in Yaounde to define a strategy on fighting the militants, they launched incursions into localities in the Far North Region.

The attacks, which began on October 14, 2014, left eight Cameroonian soldiers dead, 107 assailants killed, and a number of their equipment and weapons either seized or destroyed, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Last week’s workshop in Yaounde was sequel to the October 7, 2014, summit of LCBC leaders in Niamey, Niger, at which a decision was taken to step up the fight against Boko Haram. Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs from the sub-region are also expected to draw up a draft resolution for submission to the African Union and United Nations on putting in place a judicial framework for fighting Boko Haram.