A report Reuters news agency quoted United States officials saying that there was no evidence that the militants operating from Nigeria had received significant operational support or financing from the so-called Islamic State group.
US officials, however, told Reuters they believe the allegiance had merely been a branding exercise to boost the credibility of Boko Haram, whose insurgency in Nigeria and neighbouring countries is not related to IS’ war in Libya and the Middle East.
“If there is no meaningful connection between Isil and Boko Haram – and we haven’t found one so far – then there are no grounds for U.S. military involvement in West Africa other than assistance and training,” said one US official who spoke on conditions of anonymity. “This is an African fight, and we can assist them, but it’s their fight.”
The report comes after the Islamist group attacked the town of Bosso in Niger Republic, killing twenty-six soldiers.
