COTONOU, Benin

Boko Haram militants have sabotaged a pipeline that brings Nigerian natural gas to Benin, halting production at latter country’s only power plant, the Beninese president said Monday night.

Speaking on state television, President Boni Yayi said that, as a result of the sabotage, the 80-megawatt plant – located in the southern town of Abombey and which only became operational last year – now lacked sufficient gas to produce electricity.

“Nigeria is currently unable to provide us with the necessary natural gas to operate the plant at its optimal capacity," Yayi said.

Notably, the president’s assertions came shortly after an announcement that Benin planned to contribute 800 troops to a regional force tasked with eradicating Boko Haram.

Nigeria, for its part, is expected to contribute 3,200 personnel to the force; Chad 3,000; Cameroon 950; and Niger 750.

Benin’s daily electricity needs are estimated at 240 megawatts, according to the country’s Energy Ministry, although domestic production – under normal circumstances – generally stands at only 100 megawatts.