West African leaders have vowed to wage ‘war’ against Boko Haram at a meeting with EU and US representatives in Paris.

According to a Western diplomatic source, Nigeria may call for UN sanctions against the militant Islamist group.

French President Francois Hollande announced that a global and regional action plan to share intelligence and coordinate efforts adding that the group posed a threat to the region.

In its war to establish an Islamic state in north-east Nigeria, Boko Haram have killed more than 3,000 people.

The group kidnapped 223 schoolgirls in north-eastern Nigeria last month, and new attacks were reported in Cameroon at a Chinese work site overnight.

In Abuja, Nigerians protested calling on the government to bring the girls back.