Boko Haram affected areas

American military officials say that two of the worldХs most feared terrorist groups С the Islamic State and Boko Haram С have begun to collaborate more closely, raising alarm that they are working together to attack American allies in North and Central Africa.

A rehabilitation camp for hundreds of Boko Haram Islamists who have surrendered to the Nigerian military is set to open later in April, a military spokesman said. More than 800 fighters are expected to receive rehabilitation and skills training in the camp, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar said.

Cameroon says a regional force arrested more than 300 Boko Haram fighters and freed at least 2,000 people in the first five days of an operation to flush the terrorists from their remaining hideouts along the borders of Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

A Cameroon military commander says an operation has been launched to rid the country of Boko Haram militants "once and for all." Gen. Jacob Kodji said Thursday that the operation С code-named Tentacle С involved thousands of soldiers working with Nigerian soldiers on the other side of the Cameroon's northern border.

[Й] Retired General Dan Ali said Wednesday the military has reclaimed much of the land once occupied by the terrorist group and that Boko Haram has been reduced to waging mostly guerrilla warfare.

[Й] The troops from Benin will act as a reserve rapid intervention force and are the last from the five countries involved in the African Union-led force to be deployed.

The United States has offered to send a special operations mission to Nigeria to help the West African country fight Islamist militant group Boko Haram, the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) said on Friday.

So far donors, including Nigeria and France, have pledged about $250 million to fund the 8,700-strong regional force Й That covers just over a third of the $700 million budget announced for the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) last year.

Й Benin is set to join the regional fight against Boko Haram shortly with the deployment of 800 soldiers to insurgency hot-beds in northern Nigeria. Speaking after holding bilateral security co-operation talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Cotonou on Wednesday, Benin President Boni Yayi said 800 troops will join the Nigerian-led JMNTF.

Cameroon says its troops have killed 100 Boko Haram militants and freed 900 captives that were held by the Nigeria-based militant group. Й There has been no independent confirmation of the claim.