Boko Haram is flush with cash and weapons after a string of battlefield advances, but the fighting group could face a tougher fight with Nigeria’s neighbours, US intelligence officials have said.

In an assessment of the group, whose five-year uprising has included massacres and kidnappings and spread from Nigeria into neighboring states, the officials said they did not believe it posed a major threat to Nigeria’s oilfields in the south.

They said the group has about 4,000-6,000 “hardcore” fighters – considerably less than some estimates which have put the group’s size at up to 10,000.

The group is “financially secure” from bank robberies, kidnappings and other sources, and is able to go “toe-to-toe” with the Nigerian military after capturing an arsenal of arms, the intelligence officials told reporters.

However, the group could soon face an unprecedented test on the battlefield against more capable forces from Cameroon, Chad and Niger, they added.

The military intervention of neighbouring powers “potentially can be a game changer in a positive way,” one intelligence official said.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Boko Haram were believed to be still holding about 300 schoolgirls they kidnapped early last year and had dispersed them to multiple locations.

Around 10,000 people were killed in Boko Haram attacks last year. The Sunni Muslim group poses the biggest security threat in Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and biggest economy.

Concern over the insurgency appears to be and one of the main reasons for what appears to be a surge in political support for opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari in a February 14 election.

Many Nigerians believe Buhari, as a former military ruler, will be able to bolster the army’s hapless efforts to counter the insurgency, and that as a Muslim he may even be able to take some of the wind out of Boko Haram’s ideological sails.

The officials said the group had been engaging in both small-scale and larger attacks in recent weeks and they expected this mixed pattern of operations to continue during the election period.

The US officials’ comments came as Boko Haram suffered heavy losses after launching a major attack into Niger on Friday for the first time.

The clashes involved troops from Niger as well as Chad, which has adopted a leading role in the fight against the group.



http://www.punchng.com/news/boko-haram-small-but-financially-secure-us/

FTC

Jonah to Otuekloma...Marching for Buhari to Aso Villa!
Sai Buhari!

Definitely... They are, Why won't they be?

They are being sponsored by some highly placed individuals in the North.

By God's grace, they and their sponsors, no matter who they are, be it Buhari and APC, Jonathan and PDP or even the US themselves, they will be crushed very soon. Nigeria will breathe peace once again, Insha Allah.

Jonathan finished us

almighty God will not give him rest. .

SeverusSnape:
Definitely... They are, Why won't they be?

They are being sponsored by some highly placed individuals in the North.

agreed!...
but Jonathan is the chief sponsor..

he will never know peace

they are financially secured. VERY!!!

GEJ MUST GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! he had enough time to fight BOKOHARAM but he misused it, now he needs six weeks. he must be MAD!

Tundenoni:
agreed!...
but Jonathan is the chief sponsor..

he will never know peace

No Buhari is the chief sponsor

Tundenoni:
agreed!...
but Jonathan is the chief sponsor..

he will never know peace

YOU AND YOUR SLAVE MASTERS WILL NEVER KNOW PEACE. SENSELESS HEDIOT

Isn't it a big shame that Us who is noted as the eye of the world cannot detect those behind the evil that is equal to ebola for upto five years running.
Us indeed!

The US seems to know more about bokoharam that Nigerians

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-7T6RV5dbg

[size=15pt]Nigeria's 'disgrace' That Neighbors Must Take on Boko Haram[/size]

Opposition presidential candidate Muhammdu Buhari said it is a "disgrace" for Nigeria that its neighbors have been more successful in battle against its Boko Haram insurgency than its own army. He made the statements a week before the election, saying quote: "It’s a big disgrace for Nigeria. It is now Cameroon and Chad fighting the insurgency more than Nigeria. We will build the capacity and Nigeria should be able to secure its territorial integrity." Troops from neighboring Chad, Niger and Cameroon, all much smaller and poorer than Nigeria, have been battling the Islamist militants who have seized territory in northeastern Nigeria in a five-year insurgency.

However, the group could soon face an unprecedented test on the battlefield
against more capable forces from Cameroon, Chad and Niger, they added.

GEJ, see ya life?

V

Ok

We will win the war

Sometimes, I wonder if US is actually our friend or foe.

Bokomoney pow pow pow,, run 4ur wifes...

Nigeria the giant of Africa? or the giant of west Africa?

The group is “financially secure” from bank robberies, kidnappings and other sources, and is able to go “toe-to-toe” with the Nigerian military after capturing an arsenal of arms, the intelligence officials told reporters.

However, the group could soon face an unprecedented test on the battlefield against more capable forces from Cameroon, Chad and Niger, they added.

Tundenoni:
Jonathan finished us

almighty God will not give him rest. .

Otu nne i ebea

According to TANoids Buhari is sponsoring BH, so GMB is so rich to be financing BH for over 3years abi? Jona & his cronies are behind BH.

Its not new everyone knows that BH are been sponsored but by who that's the puzzle but one day breeze go blow and open fowl nyash.





[PHOTOS]Police Impound Arms-Laden Truck At Border Community In Kwara
Source: http://www.e reporter.com.ng/index.php/national-news/item/3090-police-impound-arms-laden-truck-at-border-community-in-kwara

What are we giant on? Epileptic power supplier, poorverty, insecurity, indisciplined military, poor educational sector, ever devaluing currency, importation of tooth pick, kidnapping,
.

Then why the silence from US and the western world considering the level of attacks from BH?


Or the waiting till northern Nigeria is finished bf they intervened?

I remember Mali case.


This calls for a great thought.

God bless Nigeria, we must over come this monster.

.....

Make US go sleep. Name so so talk dem dey talk. More capable soldiers? Why were their more capable soldiers able to look for our missing girls after spending almost 5 months in Nigeria. The US should just shut up.

I'm hating Gej seriously

Tundenoni:
Jonathan finished us

almighty God will not give him rest. .

how did Jonathan finish YOU

I don't take words from an anonymous source seriously.

just passing by licking my mango...

...and so?