victory in baga. nigerian troops sweep into the nearby town and re gain control from boko haram. >> we go for what do you call it. how it used to be. taking them. collecting it legitimately. and a few of them are called to wait. >> they show the cache of weapons left behind by the armed group as proof of success. it's these operations that the military says is turning the tide against boko haram. the fight is not being won alone. the government admits it's getting technical and logistical support. sources told al jazeera that mercenaries from south africa and other countries are playing a decisive role on the front leans. >> the u.s. government has explanations that they can stick to. they say that the neighbouring armies niger, cameroon and chad - boko haram has them also. they'll say they are defending their territory, and we just cooperate. and as they say, the foreigners from south africa. these are training - trainers. they have their story down. >> they emerged as a major threat. >> it's killed

victory in baga. nigerian troops sweep into the town of borno state, and regain control from boko haram. >> you go for confidence. you of how it used to be. you collect it. and few of them. >> reporter: they show the cache of weapons as proof of success. it's these operations that the military says is turning it against boko haram. and the night is not won alone. they now admit that it's getting technical and logistical support. >> sources have told al jazeera that mercenaries are playing a roll on the front lines. >> the nigerian government has explanations that they can stick to. they say the neighbouring armies. niger. cameroon, and chad - boko haram has attacked them also. they'll say they are defending their territory, and we cooperate with them. as they have said about the others the foreigners from south africa and elsewhere. these are trainers so i think they have the story down. >> boko haram has emerged as a major security threat to nigeria. it's killed thousands of people over the past six

like baga the scene of at least two massacres in which hundreds were killed. and now damask. two days ago a spokesperson tweeted that other areas are free. borno will soon be free. the three states in the north-east have been worse affected by the boko haram crisis. there has been misinformation and inaccuracy around the insurgency before. the military previously announced the capture and killing of the boko haram leader. only for him to then appear on youtube videos days later. no one is holding their breath or saying it's all over. if the reports are to be believed, the end of boko haram, according to the military is horizon. the impact of all of this on the election has to be positive. the presidential poll is due to be held on 28 march. governship in april. and security a major concern. the ability of people to vote is a major concern. the belief is that the election will go off peacefully and safely. >> negotiations between u.s. and iranian diplomats entered an bornt phase as they try to reach the nuclear programme. they have until the end of the month to finalise an agr

. >> reporter: victory in baga. >> confidence. you go for what do you call it - an area how it used to be. collect legitimately. and there's a few of them that have to wait. >> reporter: they show the cache of weapons left behind by the armed group as proof of success. it's these allegations that the military says is turning the tide against boko haram. the fight is not being won alone. the government admitting it's getting technical and logistical support from foreign contractors. soldiers are told al jazeera that mercenaries and other countries are playing is divisive role. >> the government one thing they say the neighbouring armies niger, cameroon and chad - boko haram has attacked them also. they say they are defending their territory. cooperate with them. as they have said about the others, the foreigners from south africa and elsewhere, they say they are trainers so i think they have their story down. >> boko haram emerged as a security threat to nigeria and its neighbours. it's killed thousands of people or the past six ye

if you'll recall the multi national task force has been in baga since 1998, but i will say that they were trained to be an encurrent insurgency force. it has taken too long, five to six years to see regionalization of the offensive and it should have been so. >> do you think that the fighters are enough, or should the nigerian government be taking other strategies as well? >> absolutely. it needs to take other strategies aside from fighting boko haram. one of the strategies the nigerian government should take is building a new intelligence structure. if you let's boko haram has been taking on successful suicide bomb attacks and this should not be so. several hundreds of people have died in suicide attacks and it's high tide that they look at how they can combat boko haram in certain areas. >> do you think that boko haram will become more dangerous now that it has pledged allegiance to isil? do you think that makes any practical difference? will boko haram get more help in its fight against isil? >> absolutely. the danger that we face at the moment is isis. isis has more money. isis h

. >> victory in baga, mercenaries swarm into the area in borno state and wrest back control from boko haram. they show a cache of weapons as proof of success. it is these very operation that are turning tide against boko haram. but the fight isn't being won alone. the government now acknowledges it is getting technical and logistic am support. being told al jazeera that mercenaries from nigeria and other countries are playing a decisive role on the front lines. boko haram has proven to be a major threat to nigeria and its neighbors. the group has also now pledged allegiance to i.s.i.l. which has called on its supporters to fight in africa. in recent months boko haram has mounted raids into neighboring chad niger and cameroon taking a toll on vital supply links. >> translator: the situation has desert rated because the road is not as accessible anymore due to the insecurity. >> reporter: niger's government insists it has no need to unleash soldiers to confront boko haram. it has the support of the african union leading a national force. as it heads to general elections later this month

they were mass produced $5 a baga animals, they weren't worth anything.to a soap opera star who lost his kid's six figure college fund. it crashed because it was stupid. charles: someone would say the same thing, chris, arguably about gold, it doesn't generate cash or throw off anything, why are so many people obsessed with gold? >> there is a perceived value people attach to it. should everything go bad, gold will hold. charles: historically it has for the most part. >> but a beanie baby is not holding any value. you can cuddle with it. >> it was a low price point that people thought they were going to buy because they were an investment piece. whether it's false or not. this was going to pay for kids' college. charles: now you're making the excuse zack said, who sold it to them? they sold it to themselves. >> suburban housewives, probably one of those. >> people want to be a part of the story. and you know this, charles, push back from the desk and go is this real? is this here? charles: congratulations, it's a great books and i think there's a lot of p

this man had a thriving business in baga 100km north of maiduguri. then boko haram took over, and he lost everything. >> a few of my sons were killed. i lost everything in my houses stores and cars. if the people in charge of security cared, we wouldn't have reached the state. >> the government points to victories by multi national forces against boko haram. the mood here is skeptical. >> reporter: why has it taken them too long to realise the enormousy of the problem. why now, before the elections? >> and this anger is shared by many. a suicide bomber attacked the market over a week ago. many were killed or injured. for most people security is the priority if a party is going to win, they must convince the voters they can deliver on any promise. >> in the last few weeks troops have dislodged the group from many areas. fundamental questions remain. >> this is one aspect. the territory is secure. what the military is interested in doing is winning the battles in many places but have not won the war. the government may have scored a point. what is not

condemning the cowardly acts of what has occurred through boko haram, particularly in the town of bagae it's alleged that thousands were killed. and it also focuses on the nigerian election where we're asking that elections pending this weekend will be held expeditiously and safely. and i want to mention that we understand that boko haram is a heinous, evil group that kills children and men and women and innocent persons and burns down villages and intimidates people who just want democracy and an opportunity to live. that means these elections are crucial and those who stand for election, they must stand for democracy and the ending of the siege of boko haram in whatever way it can be. let me express my gratefulness of the african union of which i raised a question with them led by chad and nigeria and other countries to fight off the siege of boko haram. but let me be very clear that boko haram wants to be associated with isis. they want to continue to be heinous and evil and dangerous, and they must be weeded out in the continent -- and the continent of africa must stand with them.