US ‘to equip’ Nigeria against Boko Haram
The United States (US) has restated its commitment to assisting Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and the rescue of Chibok girls.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, and David Rodriguez, commander US Africa command (USAAFRICOM), made this known in a joint online press conference on Thursday.
Thomas-Greenfield said the American government will engage President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue when the Nigerian president visits White House later in the month.
“We will have discussions with him on what we can do to continue to assist Nigeria and their effort to fight against Boko Haram,” she said.
“Part of that discussion will be how we can provide the equipment and support that Nigerians require. We will have discussion on what we can do to continue to assist Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.
“Human rights are an important value for the United States and in any place that we are providing lethal weapons. We want to know that the militaries that we are providing those weapons to do not use that in a way that violates the human rights of ordinary civilians so we will have that discussion moving forward.”
Thomas-Greenfield added that the US government will also focus on how to prepare Nigerian military to support communities.
She also said that the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls was high priority for the US government.
“This has been an extremely high priority for the US government to assist in bringing these girls home and also hundreds of other girls and young boys who were forcefully abducted by Boko Haram,” she said.
“We will not let up on our efforts; we will continue to work with the government.”
She commended Buhari and his wife for relating with the families of the abducted Chibok girls and letting them know they have not been forgotten.
On his part, Rodriguez said the US has been sharing intelligence with the Nigerian government on the Chibok girls and other Boko Haram captives.
He said the command supports peace keeping efforts and strengthens the capacity of the military in Africa through partnership.
“We will continue to do that and pursue the effort of rescuing the girls,” he said.
“The United States government is commitment to assisting African countries as they build their capacity to counter terrorism, which AFRICOM is key to providing such assistance.
“We continue to share intelligence with the Nigerian military in the fight against insurgency.”
Where was the US government when the past administration was battling with inadequate military equipment to destroy Boko Haram from our land! This terrorist gang wouid have been abolished from our territory if the terminal onslaught by the military before the recent general elections on the terrorist had been sustain. No qualm in visiting the US by our President. But we just hope that there will not be discussions on revoking the law on same sex marriage with President Buhari on his maiden presidential visit to US before true anti-terrorism assistance will be given to us! This is because, talks on revoking the law on “same sex marriage” is not negotiable and highly unacceptable by Nigerians! President Buhari must be wary of this issue to prevent Nigerians from venting their wrath on his administration! We do not want a regional instability, let alone a general national instability in our Country!
The US stepped back because your soldiers were passing sensitive information to the criminals. DOnt bother about sustaining the onslaught just before the elections because mercenaries were paid to help whittle down Boko Haram. Did you ever see the pictures of our soldiers at the battlefront at that time? The SOuth African merchant fighters were doing the job. Pls dont worry about the same sex marriage issue. It is beyond what Buhari can discuss in the US. It is a matter that the National Assembly will have to debate and revoke because there is an existing law signed by GEJ which prescribes 14 good years in jail for gays and lesbians. No President can change that law!
So, we were successful because we used mercenaries? This is good. Since we all want an end to this scourge, why don’t we continue using these mercenaries from wherever in order to fast track victory. Every army uses mercenaries or contractors for several functions. The British use the Ghukhars of Nepal even till this day. I think the use of battle-hardened mercenaries in place of Boko Haram supporting Moslem Nigerian soldiers was a military and strategic masterpiece. Sometimes, cluelessness can be quite useful.
The US is going to assist Nigeria now? Is it that Nigeria human rights situation as they claim has changed or that the presidency of that country has changed hand?