Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari pauses as he is interviewed by the Associated Press at Blair House in Washington

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari pauses as he is interviewed by the Associated Press at Blair House in Washington,  Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said a multinational African force will be in place within 10 days to take the fight to the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram that has killed thousands and was behind the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls.
                                         

Buhari predicted in an interview with
The Associated Press that Boko Haram would be defeated in 18 months or less. But he conceded that Nigerian authorities lack intelligence about the girls still missing after the mass-kidnapping from the northern town of Chibok in April 2014 — an act that stirred international outrage and a campaign to "Bring Back Our Girls" that reached as far as the White House.

He said his government is open to freeing detained militants in exchange for the girls' freedom, but only if it finds credible Boko Haram leaders to negotiate with.

"I think Nigeria will make as much sacrifice as humanly possible to get the girls back. This is our main objective," Buhari said, a day after meeting with President Barack Obama.