Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – According to What’sOn Gambia, the Inspector General of Police has directed the Gambia Police Force to investigate allegations that members of the Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram may be present in The Gambia.
According to a publication by What’sOn Gambia, the IGP has tasked Assistant Inspector General of Police (Crime) Amie Nyassi with leading the investigation into the reported presence of suspected Boko Haram members in the country.
Nigerian ECOMIG Soldiers to Join Investigation
The directive also provides for the inclusion of two Nigerian soldiers serving with the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) on the investigation panel, according to What’sOnGambia.
Their involvement is expected to bring additional regional security expertise to the inquiry, given Nigeria’s long-standing experience in dealing with Boko Haram and other extremist threats.
Allegations Under Investigation
From the What’sOnGambia claim, the police directive does not establish that Boko Haram members are in The Gambia. Rather, it sets out an investigation to determine the credibility of the allegations and establish whether there is any basis for claims about the presence of members of the group in the country.
Boko Haram, which emerged in northeastern Nigeria, has carried out attacks across the Lake Chad Basin and has been designated a terrorist organization by several governments and international bodies.
The investigation, if established, comes amid wider regional security concerns, with West African countries continuing to strengthen cooperation against terrorism and cross-border crime.
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