Nigeria is obviously not happy with the United States of America which it accused of refusing to sell “lethal weapons” to fight the country’s Islamic uprising, represented by Boko Haram. Nigeria insisted that such attitude had prolonged the battle with Boko Haram.
The country’s position was made known on Monday by the Nigeria’ Ambassador to the US, Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo to members of the Washington-based council on foreign relations meeting at his embassy.
He was emphatic that the United States has let down Nigeria which has been its old ally, ” in its hour of need. Nigeria’s people and government feel abandoned by America.
“The US 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.
“We find it difficult to understand how and why, in spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly.”
Nigeria’s military chief on 17 October announced that the Boko Haram Islamic extremist group had agreed to an immediate cease-fire, but the militants have responded with more and deadlier attacks and now control an area of some 20, 000km along the border with Cameroon.
Adefuye confirmed that Washington has refused Nigeria’s requests for certain weaponry because of allegations that Nigeria’s defence forces have been violating the human rights of detainees accused of belonging to Boko Haram.
Human rights groups and an Associated Press investigation found Nigerian troops responsible for the deaths of thousands of detainees since a state of military emergency was imposed in May 2014 in the three northeastern states where the insurgency has destroyed any semblance of normal life.
US laws have banned the sales of lethal weapons to countries whose military are accused of gross human rights abuses.
Adefuye said the allegations are based on rumours spread by political opponents and journalists who favour the opposition as Nigeria prepares for February presidential elections. [myad]
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tell NASRDA and the Nigerian President to urgently lunch into the space multiple HD and two extra non-HD space cameras with Space Alien disaster scanner and detector, consistent lethal weapons (Destroyer Helicopters, Fighter Jets, and Destroyer Armor Tanks) that can massively invade an area that can put people and criminals and terrorists in an unusual melted fear. You can separate good people from criminal or terrorists later. The Nigerian government is wasting too much time on this. Why is Nigerian government allowing disasters they can stop easily using this devices? Ignore the criticism of other countries and save the day and unity first.