African leaders to deploy coordinated military forces to fight Boko Haram

The leaders of African nations Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Benin have announced plans to step up the fight against Boko Haram with an additional battalion and a command centre to tackle the militants whose insurgency has spread beyond Nigeria, ABC News reports.

The four heads of state and a representative of Cameroon's president said after meeting in Niger's capital Niamey that a command centre for an already agreed-upon multinational force, led by a chief of staff, will be in place by November 20.

"The heads of state regrets the persistence of Boko Haram Islamic sect's atrocious acts of terror on people and security forces in Nigeria and other neighbouring countries," a statement said.

The leaders agreed to finalise the deployment of troops promised by member states to form the multinational force, to operate within their national borders, by the beginning of November.