Nigerian president pledges cooperation to fight 'terrorism'

AFP

10 August 2011

Nigerian president pledges cooperation to fight 'terrorism'

ABUJA — Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday pledged cooperation to fight "terrorism" during talks with Niger's leader, his office said, amid concern over Islamist extremists in the region.

During talks with Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou in Abuja, Jonathan, the current chairman of the 15-nation West African bloc ECOWAS, also condemned an alleged coup attempt in the neighbouring country last month.

Jonathan said that "Nigeria would take definite steps to strengthen security cooperation with all her neighbours in order to check trans-border crime and terrorism and ensure the security of people," his office said in a statement.

Such cooperation would include strengthening border patrols, it added.