Nigeria's defence chief proposes fencing borders to curb insecurity
Nigeria's military has been strained by widespread security issues, particularly a 16-year insurgency in the northeast led by Islamist militant group Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province. Security forces and civilians have been attacked and killed and tens of thousands of people have been displaced.
Defence chief of staff Gen Christopher Musa, who spoke at a security conference in the capital Abuja, said "border management is very critical", citing Pakistan's 1,350km fence with Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia's 1,400km barrier with Iraq as successful precedents.
This is the first time a top Nigerian official has publicly suggested such a measure.
"Other countries, because of the level of insecurity they have, had to fence their borders," he said.
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