Mercenaries Lead the Fight Against Boko Haram

Mercenaries are leading the fight against Boko Haram, the Nigerian terrorist group that recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

The New York Times reports that the mercenaries are operating out of the Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the largest city close to Boko Haram territory that remains under control of the Nigerian government.

The mercenaries are South Africans who have established a base in a part of the airport. They carry out their missions at night with a fully array of advanced weaponry including helicopters and armored vehicles.

Boko Haram has recently experienced some setbacks in the towns and villages they control, and the mercenary forces are said to have been a major reason for Boko Haram's difficulties.

The Times reports that the mercenaries will do the heavy fighting at night, and in the early morning hours the Nigerian Army will enter a village or town that has been liberated and claim the victory for themselves.

The mercenaries and Nigerian Army will have to act quickly if they hope to stop Boko Haram's progress. The group's official affiliation with the Islamic State means that it is likely Boko Haram's ranks will soon be filled with foreign fighters. Some of these may be extremely experienced and skilled after years of fighting in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

The mercenaries are only the latest group to get in on the fighting against Boko Haram. The governments of Cameroon, Chad, Benin, and Niger have all pledged troops to an 8,700 strong regional force that will be used to combat Boko Haram.

These countries have contributed troops as Boko Haram sought to expand into those countries' territory. The group has launched attacks on a number of towns in Cameroon and Chad.