Disappointed by the refusal of the United States to help Nigeria
procure military weapons to combat Boko Haram, the federal government
has now openly expressed its dissatisfaction with the American
government decision, arguing that the Americans were letting Nigeria
down at her hour of need, Empowered Newswire reports.
Speaking Monday while receiving a delegation of the U.S. Council on
Foreign Relations, the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States,
Professor Ade Adefuye said both the Nigerian people and the government
feel abandoned by America.
According to Mr. Adefuye “I am sad to inform you that the Nigerian
leadership: military and political, and even the general populace, are
not satisfied with the scope, nature and content of the United States’
support for us in our struggle against terrorists.”
Continuing, the Nigerian envoy stated that “we find it difficult to
understand how and why in spite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria with
their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding
and becoming more deadly”.
Reviewing the situation further, Mr. Adefuye said that at first,
Nigeria had problems with the manner in which intelligence was being
shared, adding that even though the U.S. Government claims that the
problem has been addressed, “it is still there”.
Categorically, Mr. Adefuye stated that “the U.S. Government has up
till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal
equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short
time on the basis of the allegations that Nigeria’s defence forces have
been violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects when captured or
arrested.”
Indeed the US government had equally explained that it would not be
selling military weapons to Nigeria due to human rights allegations
against the Nigerian military.
But Mr. Adefuye, in his meeting with the Council on Foreign Relations, dismissed such allegations.
Mr. Adefuye noted that Nigeria and the United States have had a long
standing and healthy relationship reinforced by existing economic and
geo-political realities. However he said in recent times “Nigeria has
had reasons to complain about the style, nature and manner with which
some United States’ policies are implemented with particular reference
to terrorism in Nigeria.“
He said the United States was the first to respond to Nigeria’s call
for support in its battle against terrorists and has remained a major
pillar of support in the struggle against the terrorists.
But he said it is a sad commentary that right now inspite of the U.S.
presence and help in Nigeria Boko Haram is becoming more deadly.
Alleging that the US might have been reacting upon claims from the
opposition media with sympathy for opposition parties, Adefuye insisted
that the allegations could not be substantiated as many of the
allegations were meant to “embarrass the government of President
Goodluck Jonathan.”
Professor Adefuye further emphasised that allegations of human rights
violation are based on rumours, hearsays and exaggerated accounts of
clashes between the Nigerian forces and Boko Haram fighters.
He cited an example of an incident that happened in Baga in 2013,
when human rights groups and the opposition press reported that based on
pictures taken from satellite, over 1600 houses were destroyed in a
village that has less than 600 houses.
Besides, Mr. Adefuye stated regarding the video reports of human
rights violations involving attacks on women and children purported to
have been carried out by Nigerian soldiers in Boko Haram affected areas
that those activities were carried out by Boko Haram members wearing
stolen Nigerian army uniforms.
He explained that disguise and subterfuge are standard practices of
insurgent groups; and that the Chibok abduction of our school girls by
Boko Haram succeeded because the girls thought that they were being
carried to safety by soldiers of the Nigerian army.
The Nigerian Ambassador said opinions on human rights violations by
Nigerian defence forces are biased and are not subjected to the
necessary verification.
He went on to say that the Boko Haram issue is becoming heavily
politicized especially with the approach of the general elections in
2015. Opposition media, he said, provide half-truths, exaggerated
accounts which are then aired by the foreign media, forming the basis of
reports sent to the capitals of Western nations.
He, therefore, implored the embassies of western nations based in
Nigeria to check and re-check their facts, and not use half-truths and
rumours as the basis of their reports and recommendations to their
capitals.
He argued that the alleged violations are unfortunately the basis of
U.S.’ refusal to sell necessary lethal equipment to Nigeria in order to
fight Boko Haram.
The Nigerian ambassador then implored the Council on Foreign Affairs
to put pressure on the US State Department and the US Department of
Defence to re-examine the basis of their refusal to sell equipment to
Nigeria, insisting that Boko Haram threatens Nigeria’s corporate
existence and territorial integrity.
“A stable and secure Nigeria is an invaluable asset to America,” Mr. Adefuye said.
Culled from Premium Times.
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