By Rafiu Ajakaye
ILORIN, Nigeria
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday announced that his government would soon be receiving fresh arms supplies to help fight Boko Haram in the country's restive northeast.
"Yes, we have security challenges relating to the Boko Haram saga, mainly in the northeast," Jonathan said at a campaign rally in the north-central Kwara State.
"As far as the military is concerned, even as we are talking, we are expecting more platforms this week and next week," he told thousands of ruling party supporters.
Jonathan, who is currently touring the country as part of a reelection campaign, did not give any more details.
Millions of Nigerians will go to the polls on Feb. 14 to elect a president and members of parliament.
Jonathan is standing for reelection against Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler running on the ticket of the opposition All Progressive Congress, and at least 12 other candidates.
"I believe that in the next two weeks or so, we will be able to move faster than we are moving," said Jonathan.
Nigeria has recently stepped up efforts to strengthen the army following allegations that its troops were outgunned by Boko Haram insurgents.
On Sunday, hundreds of Boko Haram militants staged simultaneous attacks on Maiduguri, provincial capital of Borno State, and the city of Monguno.
The attacks came one day after Jonathan had visited Borno, the epicenter of Boko Haram militancy.
For the last five years, Nigeria has battled a fierce Boko Haram insurgency that has ravaged the country's volatile northeast and claimed thousands of lives.
The year 2014 proved to be the insurgency's bloodiest year yet, with increasingly frequent attacks, higher death tolls and a deluge of displaced persons.
A seemingly emboldened Boko Haram recently stepped up its militant activity, seizing several areas of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states, where it has since declared an "Islamic caliphate."
The attacks displaced well over 1.5 million people in 2014, according to a recent report by the Borno State government.
