Britain is to give £5million to help efforts to defeat terror group Boko Haram , it emerged today . Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the money would support a new regional task force designed to target the Islamic extremists in northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin area . It came as the Nigerian military said it has destroyed the headquarters of Boko Haram in the barbaric terrorist organisation 's de facto capital city Gwoza . Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the money would support a new regional task force designed to target the Islamic extremists in northern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin area . Mr Hammond said 'important gains ' were being made in taking on Boko Haram , as talks were being held in at the UN in New York . Nigeria , Chad , Cameroon , Niger and Benin will contribute to the task force , which has been authorised by the African Union . Talks are taking place in New York to endorse the unit via a United Nations ' security resolution . Mr Hammond said : 'The UK fully supports the efforts of Nigeria , Chad , Cameroon , Niger and Benin to tackle the scourge of Boko Haram . ' I hope that the international community can send an important message of support through the swift adoption of a security council resolution in New York to welcome the force . 'Important gains are already being made on the ground in tackling Boko Haram by the regional partners who will contribute to the task force . 'It will continue to play an important role in fighting this terrorist insurgency . I commend the commitment and bravery of the troops involved . 'The UK continues to stand strong with Nigeria and its neighbours in tackling this heinous group . ' Earlier this week it emerged that Boko Haram had abducted hundreds of women and children from primary schools to use them as 'human shields ' . The Islamic militants took adults and children from primary schools in the north-eastern town of Damasak as troops from Niger and Chad approached a month ago , Mike Omeri , the Nigerian spokesman for the fight against Boko Haram , confirmed this week . When the soldiers arrived , they found the town largely deserted - with local reports suggesting as many as 500 people were taken in the raids . Liberators : The Nigerian military says its soldiers ( pictured ) have destroyed the headquarters of Boko Haram in the barbaric terrorist organisation 's de facto capital city Gwoza . Brutal : Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau ( pictured ) declared the northeast Nigerian city to be the capital of a new Islamic caliphate after he seized the town in August . Today the official Twitter account for the Nigerian Defense Headquarters announced 'FLASH : Troops this morning captured Gwoza destroying the Headquarters of the Terrorists self-styled Caliphate . ' It followed with 'Several terrorists died while many are captured . Mopping up of entire # Gwoza and her suburbs is ongoing . ' Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau declared the northeast Nigerian city to be the capital of a new Islamic caliphate after he seized the town in August . Earlier this month Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State , formally recognising Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as their spiritual leader . It was not possible to verify this morning 's morale-boosting announcement , which comes just one day before critical presidential elections in Nigeria . The Twitter messages made no mention of military operations in Sambisa Forest , where Nigeria 's home-grown Islamic extremist group is believed to have several camps . Warplanes have been bombarding the area for weeks . The forest starts about 20 miles from Gwoza town , which is 80 miles southeast of Maiduguri - the Borno state capital state and Boko Haram 's birthplace .
Support for new regional task force designed to target Islamic extremists . Nigeria , Cameroon , Chad , Niger and Benin will contribute to the group . Nigerian military says it has destroyed the jihadi 's headquarters in Gwoza . North-east Nigerian city is a Boko Haram stronghold and de facto capital .