U.S. set to provide $5 million for anti-Boko Haram force

A State Department official says the United States plans to provide five million dollars to help support a regional military force fighting Nigeria's Islamist militant group Boko Haram. 

Boko Haram last year held a vast swathe of territory in north-eastern Nigeria. 

The militants have been beaten back but are still blamed for isolated attacks such as in Chad's capital on Monday where at least 27 people were killed. 

The United States is already providing bilateral Aid to Chad, Niger and Cameroon with logistics and other equipment worth about 34 million dollars. 

The additional funding which is for a new force, composed of troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin, will be channelled via the African Union. 

NEWS24