Members of the Botswana public have sent an unusual message to Nigeria as they seek military support from Africa in the increasingly challenging fight against the Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram.

A report from Yarona FM News, one of Botswana's leading radio stations, sampled public opinion concerning the appeal by the African Union for its members to send soldiers to Nigeria to assist in the fight against Boko Haram.

According to the report, the majority of people spoken to urged against the Botswana Defence Force troops being sent to provide military aid to Nigeria.

“Some members of the public who say sending soldiers away would expose them to unnecessary dangers argue, among other things, that Nigeria should look to the famous televangelist TB Joshua for divine intervention,” Yarona FM reported.

These sentiments come on the backdrop of reports that the government seem undecided on whether or not it should send Botswana Defence Force troops to Nigeria.

Facebook comments on the report reiterated the public mindset. “When you send soldiers there, they will be fighting the wrong battle,” Thero Matsuakata stated. “These people are led by evil spirits! Prophet T.B. Joshua talked about this long ago.”

However, a minority still insisted Botswana should provide the requested aid. “It would be very selfish of our government if they ignored this plea,” wrote Ken Pul Kol.

“Soldiers are trained for such things as much as a doctor is trained to save a patient's life! What if we are befallen by the same thing tomorrow,” she queried. “Do we really want the world to look sideways and pretend we aren't dying?”

Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua gained prominence in Botswana following his crusade in 2005 that packed the National Stadium in Gabarone. His television station Emmanuel TV remains one the most closely followed channels in the country.

Via Yarona FM News, Botswana