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




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