TheCable

Bashir Magashi, minister of defence, says the rescue operation carried out in Nigeria by United States special forces did not violate the nation’s sovereignty.

The minister said the federal government granted the US military permission to carry out the operation last week in the north.

He said this on Tuesday while addressing journalists after defending the ministry’s budget before the senate committee on defence.

TheCable had reported how US special forces stormed Nigeria to rescue an American held hostage by kidnappers.

Twenty-seven-year-old Philip Walton was abducted in Niger Republic from where he was moved to an unknown location in northern Nigeria.

The rescue operation sent tongues wagging, with many claiming it might have violated Nigeria’s sovereignty.

Some Nigerians also claimed the US special forces might have secretly entered the country to carry out the covert operation.

But Magashi dismissed the claims, stating that the federal government was duly informed ahead of the rescue operation following which it granted the US permission to go ahead.

“The United States of America contacted the Nigerian government to undertake that operation,” he said

“There is nothing wrong with a friendly nation taking permission to conduct an operation which is for the habitual good of the countries. That is why we allowed it to happen.”

On how the US has helped Nigeria in fighting insurgency, the minister said “it is not meant for the consumption of the public.”

“We are making efforts and they have been helping us greatly in areas where we have difficulties and we are still asking for more,” he added.

Nigeria and America have had some setbacks in their relationship regarding military operations.

In 2014 when close to 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents who invaded their school in Borno state, the United States had offered to provide military support to help with their rescue.

However, officials at the time claimed Nigeria was not forthcoming with information and had only accepted the offer of the US and other allies about a month after the girls were abducted.

That incident is said to have caused a strain in both countries’ military collaboration, including in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.