Washington--Boko Haram is flush with cash and weapons after a string of battlefield advances, but the militants could face a tougher fight with Nigeria's neighbors, US intelligence officials said Friday.
The group is "financially secure" from bank robberies, kidnappings and other sources, and is able to go "toe-to-toe" with the Nigerian military after capturing an arsenal of arms, the intelligence officials told reporters.
However, the group could soon find itself overstretched as it faces an unprecedented test on the battlefield against more capable forces from Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
The military intervention of neighboring powers "potentially can be a game changer in a positive way," one intelligence official said.
The comments came as Boko Haram suffered heavy losses after launching a major attack into Niger.
The clashes involved troops from Niger as well Chad, which has adopted a leading role in the fight against the Islamists.
US officials drew a possible parallel with Somalia, where regional armies have rolled back Shebab extremists.
Inside Nigeria, Boko Haram has been gaining in strength, seizing 30 towns and villages in the space of a year.
The advance has allowed the group to carve out a safe haven in order to stage more sophisticated operations and attacks over a wider area.
The Boko Haram insurgents in some cases have seized armored personnel carriers from retreating Nigerian troops, allowing the group to "up its game" on the battlefield, an official said.
The armored vehicles have enabled the militants to advance on towns and villages more rapidly as a result, the official said.
Boko Haram had about 4,000-6,000 fighters at its disposal.
AFP
