Like a contagion that spreads when it is not controlled at the right time, the marauding might of Boko Haram is seeping into the countries around Nigeria with debilitating consequences for its neighbours. Chad, Central African Republic, Niger and Cameroon are all in a state of heightened stress as Boko Haram capitalises on the utter lack of systems and infiltrates these countries with impunity, further hollowing out their ability to progress. The most vulnerable stretch is the border between Cameroon and Nigeria that runs for nearly 1,600 kilometres. The two countries, with a long-running mistrust of each other, need to cooperate in tackling the menace of Boko Haram first.
The single biggest reason for Boko Haram’s uninterrupted spread is the utter lack of consensus between these West African countries in forging a common strategy that can effectively combat it. The corrosive power of old animosities, lingering linguistic hostilities and weak governances, along with the endemic ethnic warfare that is leading thousands of people to flee across the borders, is placing enormous strain on them to not only manage themselves but also deal with terrorist infiltrations. The fact that most of these countries lack military strength is also exacerbating the situation. The need of the hour for West Africa is to put aside old grudges and fortify its borders against the onslaught of Boko Haram before the latter lures away significant numbers of their disenchanted youth across the region to its feral cadres. That would be an outcome with unimaginable consequences for the entire region.
