Its December 2016 and the Nigerian army has just done the impossible. It is pushed the world's deadliest terrorist group out of its last major stronghold in the Sambisa forest. A year before Boko Haram controlled an area the size of Costa -Rica, encompassing 21 local governments and cutting off 2 million Nigerians from the the rest of the country. Boko Haram did what Biafra, Chad and Cameroon tried but failed to achieve, hold take over and hold unto Nigerian territory for a year.

The Nigerain army had a hard time taking back these lost territories much less defeating Boko Haram in its main envlav in the Sambisa. But all that changed after the 2015 elections. The electoral violence and subsequent killing the U.S had predicted never materialized. Too bad for the 300 Marines Obama deployed to Ghana days before the election, ready to move in and evacuate Americans when the killings starts.

Subsequently in less than nine months the Nigerian army had not only taken back all lost territories, it had also dislodged Boko Haram from the 66,00 square kilometres Sambisa forest, the Impregnanble fortress of the group, a feat thought Impossible. 

It should be recalled that the Nigeria's attempt to replace weapons lost to attrition was countered by the Obama administration, who slammed an arm's embargo on Nigeria over its treatment of Boko Haram prisoners, an allegation supported by Amnesty International without concrete proof. Nigeria's arms agreement with Israel for the sale of Cobra attack helicopters was also torpedoed by the Obama administration, while Hillary Clinton, the joint architect of the destruction of Libya vehemently refused to have the U.S State Department officially recognize Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation, therefore requiring the U.S government by law to help the Nigerian military in its fight for survival. 

A month later a Hercules C-130 transport aircraft took off from a Pakistani airbase enroute to Nigeria. The aircraft was intercepted over Saudi airspace by F-15 fighters and forced to land. An inspection of the cargo revealed de-assembled french Gazelle helicopters. Needless to say the cargo was impounded.

The Nigerian government retaliated when a French chattered Antonov cargo aircraft was forced to land over Nigerian air space in Kano. The pilot's were detained by airport security after an inspection revealed several Gazelle helicopters. The French government insisted the consignments were for the Chadian airforce and demanded it be released.

The powers that be struck back, this time closer to home. A furor arose between Africa's two powerhouses when South African airport authorities seized $15 million meant for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian military from two Nigerian and Israeli agents who arrived the country in a private jet. South African agent found an invoice for helicopters and armament meant for Nigeria.

South Africa, earlier slightest by Nigeria's decision to slam an unprecedented mount of fine ($5 billion) on a South African company MTN saw this as an opportunity to embarrass the Nigerian government. The Nigerian government accused Pretoria of being a lap dog for the CIA. The South African government decried the comment as irresponsible and insisted Nigeria broke South Africa's laws by illegally smuggling in $15 million in cash.

Though the funds were returned after weeks, this incident was a wake up call for the Nigerian government. The West, Nigeria's traditional ally was determined to cripple Nigeria's war effort. Looking east was the logical option for Nigeria and they delivered.

Attack drones secretly procured from China, T-17M tanks from the Czech Republic and Mi-35M helicopter gunships from Russia were delivered without preconditions. No drama, no press release, just business.

With new weapons the Nigerian army abandoned its trenches and went scorched earth on Boko Haram. The Jihadi group Boko Haram did not see it coming neither were they prepared. 

The capture of Sambisa was an unexpected surprise. What happened next and the failure of the Nigerian intelligence Agency laid the foundation for the mess Nigeria finds itself in today, one in which there is almost no hope of escape.

Just weeks after the much publicized fall of Camp Zero in the Sambisa, the U.S military suddenly negotiated an agreement with the government of Niger to allow for the construction of a new military base and all associate infrastructure in the city of Agadez. Embedded in its request to Congress was $180 million for construction and support operations.


Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger.The largest Air man built project in the history of the United States Air Force.


Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger.The largest Air man built project in the history of the United States Air Force.


A hangar being built at a new U.S. drone base, officially known as Nigerien Air Base 201, in Agadez, Niger, April 15, 2018.
 Photo: Carley Petesch/AP

The Agadez Air Base 201 was now the largest air man-built project in the history of the worlds most powerful Air Force. 

The base was completed in less than three months. So the U.S spent a quarter of a billion dollars in the largest Air man built project in Air Force history in a remote desert in Niger Republic, one of the poorest country in the world, a country that had no strategic ecomomic or political value to the U.S.

Within weeks of the completion of the record breaking project, U.S President Barack Obama announced that the United States, the worlds oldest constitutional democracy is establishing another drone base in Cameroon and will deploy up to three hundred military personnel. A move that was enthusiastically welcomed by Africa's longest serving dictator Paul Biya. The drone base he said will provide intelligence support to Cameroon, Niger and Chadian military fighting Boko Haram.


Top: BIR soldiers in discussion with unidentified foreign personnel. The device in the background is the “skyhook” for a ScanEagle drone. Bottom: On top of containers referred to as “The Office,” there appears to be a communications array probably linked to the ScanEagle unmanned aerial system.
 Photos: Facebook


Between December 2013 and February 2015, two buildings appeared on the western side of Salak, and foundations were laid in the southwest corner for hangars. Photos: Google Earth
The world bastion of democracy that had no problem slamming an arm's embargo on Nigeria, the 4th largest democracy in the world and its biggest trading partner in Africa, was now strengthening its partnership with two of Africa's most ruthless authoritarian dictators, Chad and Cameroon. Idris Derby of Chad has ruled for 21 years and Paul Biya, currently holds the title of the world's longest serving dictatorship, holding power for 37 years.

With the establishment of the worlds most sophisticated surveillance drone base in Niger, Chad and Cameroon, the United States is now fully entrenched in the affairs of West Africa, and after investing over half  billion on these projects, it is virtually impossible for the U.S to abandon its investment and leave West Africa. They will be here forever, and history has shown that anywhere the U.S military set up shop, unrest, violence and even war comes shortly thereafter.

MQ-9 REAPER UAV

A single MQ-9 Reaper costs $16.9 million. The MQ-9 Reaper is arguably the world's most sophisticated an deadliest surveillance aircraft. Built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems , the MQ-9 Reaper is a 66 ft medium altitude aircraft used for ISR intelligence gathering and precision strikes against enemy targets. It provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using Hugh resolution synthetic apoeture radar  (SAR) and long range eoectri-optical/infrared (EQ/IR) sensors with long loiter time over target areas.

The MQ-9 carries the Huges integrated surveillance and reconnaissance sensor system. It integrates a ST MTI system along with an optical and thermography imager. All three sensors are controlled and their outputs filtered by a common processor and transmitted in real time t up to 50 Mbit/s to ground station.

The MQ-9 is capable of taking high resolution and infra red images as well as can intercept telephone and radio chatter. It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles or 100,000 km2 of terrain in a day. This is equivalent to the size of South Korea. These drones can cover every part of Nigeria's northeast and border area with relative ease.

The MQ-9 has a range of more than 12,000 nautical miles, can fly at very high altitudes of 60,000 ft and can keep loitering for around 34 hours without beak. This aircraft is without peer. One single MQ-9 Reaper drone unit carries more offensive punch than the entire Air Force fleet of all 16 ECOWAS states plus Cameroon and Chad combined. Although highly unlikely, the U.S can in theory decapitate the Nigerian government in one strike and nobody will know who was responsible.


Satellite antenna and sensors of a NOAA-NASA flight demonstrator. Wikipedia

To put the awesome power of this machine into perspective lets look at the strikes that killed the alleged mastermind of 9/11 and attacks on the USS Cole in Yemen. The U.S pilot operating the drone was in Djibouti, while the commander overseeing the operation was in Saudi Arabia. This drone has been responsible for killing both high level target in Iraq and A-Stan as well as possible targets such as insurgents spotted planting a roadside bomb.

The Reaper has a speed of 482km/h, fast enough for hovering back and forth in the skies in search of troop movements and destroy enemy personnel and vehicles on the move. This drone can fly about 9 times farther and twice as high as any aircraft in the NAF inventory with the exception of the F-7Ni interceptor.

One important thing to know about the Reaper is that they are deployed in groups of four. Each Reaper system consists of four individual Reaper drones operated by four different flight teams.

Make no mistake, these drones are active as you read this article. The U.S does not deploy a $16 million sophisticated drone to a $100 million base halfway across the world to sit on aircraft tarmacs. The operations of these UAVs are in motion 24 hours a day. So a team at a base in Iraq may be responsible for take off and landing but then hand over control to a team in Ethiopia. This way there are fewer teams overseas landing drones all day and more teams based in the USA who are responsible for the Reaper during the duration of its mission, which often lasts as long as a full 24 hours.


UAV Operators at Joint Base Balad (LSA Anaconda), Iraq, 20 April 2005

But in West Africa America is re-writing the rules of its drone operations. Since the capture of the Sambisa forest in December 2016 the U.S has negotiated, constructed and brought online a staggering four Reaper drone base. One in Garoua Cameroon, two in Agadez and Niamey, Niger Republic, one in Chad and one in Mali, all within the space of two years. This is the largest airmen built project in U.S Air Force history.

Assuming just one squadron of Reaper drone units are deployed to each country, there are around 28 of the world's deadliest most sophisticated combat drones all within 25 minutes flight time to the Nigerian border. This is the single largest concentration of Reaper drone bases outside the United States.

According to the USAF the Reapers main purpose is to hunt and kill enemy combatants constantly. So this begs the question, with so much Intelligence gathering, surveillance and strike platforms in the region how on earth is Boko Haram is still able to carry out attacks in broad day light for hours over and over and over again without detection?

How is Boko Haram able to move easily to and fro the borders into countries housing U.S drones, carry out training, reinforce its ranks, smuggle in weapons and launch more attacks without detection?

How is ISIS (like the U.S insists ) able to smuggle men and material from the Middle East all the way to Nigeria in absolutely stealth?

How does the U.S know ISIS is settinp shop in Nigeria? How come Boko Haram seems to be waxing stronger,getting more tactical , more sophisticated and more daring in its attack in the same period the U.S is increasing its footprint in West Africa?

How does Boko Haram carry out night attacks on Nigerian military bases without much night vision equipments. Attacking an army formation is no means an easy feat to pull. In entails a lot of Intelligence gathering on troop location, number of troops, weapons placement and defensive perimeters. This in turn entails a high level of real time intelligence gathering. If so where is Boko Haram getting its intelligence from?

These are the questions Nigerians have to ask since the Nigerian government has shown no interest in keeping an eye on the force build up on its borders and the terrible consequences that comes with it. 

There was no U.S drone presence when Boko Haram was forced to abandon it dream of a Caliphte and beat a hasty retreat back to the Sambisa, its impregnable fortress where it was ultimately forced to abandon and flee. Two years after the largest concentration of U.S drone bases in the world, Nigeria is worse off than it was before the presence of U.S forces.

Bok Haram is better trained, better armed, have access to real time intelligence and to make matters worse, the U.S now insists the ISIS threat has miraculously moved from Syria to Nigeria. This theoretically gives the U,S legal rights to go after ISIS in Nigeria.....what a stroke of luck and coincidence that the U.S just happened to have six drone bases at the right place at the right time in an area ISIS has decided to setup shop.

https://defensenigeria.blog/2019/07/08/the-real-reason-isis-is-moving-to-nigeria/

The reason they are moving to Nigeria is because Buhari has made the country condusive for terrorist

FarahAideed:
The reason they are moving to Nigeria is because Buhari has made the country condusive for terrorist

I thought you swore never comment on Nairaland when Fayose Eleka was defeated at the Ekiti state polls.

You cant stick to your word.

The US when uninvited never interferes in one's affairs. They can only extend intelligence and whether the intelligence is utilized or not, it's not their business.

So you expect them to fight boko haram, are you paying the salaries of its personnel and for the ammunition?
Whenever Northerners want boko haram to end, it will end but for now, enjoy your next level without wailing.

rusher14:


I thought you swore never comment on Nairaland when Fayose Eleka was defeated at the Ekiti state polls.

You cant stick to your word.

Me ? Are you sure Sir?

This boko haram thing is deeper than we thought

Boko haram stated with a group of men, trains by group of men, sponsors by some group of men,controls by some group of men, owns by some group of men, defend by some group of men .
BuBu is the only one that knows this group of men.

J111333:
The US when uninvited never interferes in one's affairs. They can only extend intelligence and whether the intelligence is utilized or not, it's not their business.

So you expect them to fight boko haram, are you paying the salaries of its personnel and for the ammunition?
Whenever Northerners want boko haram to end, it will end but for now, enjoy your next level without wailing.

You obviously lack a clear understanding of what this is all about, but I appreciate your comment.

The powers that be struck back, this time closer to home. A furor arose between Africa's two powerhouses when South African airport authorities seized $15 million meant for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian military from two Nigerian and Israeli agents who arrived the country in a private jet. South African agent found an invoice for helicopters and armament meant for Nigeria.

South Africa, earlier slightest by Nigeria's decision to slam an unprecedented mount of fine ($5 billion) on a South African company MTN saw this as an opportunity to embarrass the Nigerian government. The Nigerian government accused Pretoria of being a lap dog for the CIA. The South African government decried the comment as irresponsible and insisted Nigeria broke South Africa's laws by illegally smuggling in $15 million in cash.

You are clearly mixing things up here , the 15 million dollars was siezed in 2014 during the Jonathan govt and the 5 billion dollars MTN fine was in 2016 by the Buhari govt meaning the fine couldn't have been what spited the South Africans to sieze the money

FarahAideed:
The reason they are moving to Nigeria is because Buhari has made the country condusive for terrorist

There's more truth and clarity in this one sentence than there is the entire epistle posted up there!

SLBMS:


You obviously lack a clear understanding of what this is all about, but I appreciate your comment.

I do but what you think exists does not exist. The ant that bites the dog lives in the dog's skin, not outside. The US knows this, that's why they are indifferent about the boko haram nonsense. How can they sell weapons to a country who sabotage its own security? A good number of Nigeria's military weapons are in the hands of boko haram today. Some Northern military big shots are already frustrating the efforts of innocent soldiers fighting in Borno by divulging critical moves of the military to boko haram and you expect the US to keep selling weapons to you.
Niger and Chad have good terrains for military bases and as a super power, the US needs strong presence in all continents that's why they are there that's all. If you have other reasons you think they are there, then continue with your conspiracy theory.

IGBOSON1:


There's more truth and clarity in this one sentence than there is the the entire epistle posted up there!

Alright I agree you're right lol. You 're correct ok?

J111333:
I do but what you think exists does not exist. The ant that bites the dog lives in the dog's skin, not outside. The US knows this, that's why they are indifferent about the boko haram nonsense. How can they sell weapons to a country who sabotage its own security? A good number of Nigeria's military weapons are in the hands of boko haram today. Some Northern military big shots are already frustrating the efforts of innocent soldiers fighting in Borno by divulging critical moves of the military to boko haram and you expect the US to keep selling weapons to you.
Niger and Chad have good terrains for military bases and as a super power, the US needs strong presence in all continents that's why they are there that's all. If you have other reasons you think they are there, then continue with your conspiracy theory.

Ok. But its not that simple as you espouse. Boko Haram does not have what it takes to hold its own against the combined armies of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, all backed up by U.S drone bases. It's virtually impossible. Not even ISIS can maintain such longevity. Boko Haram is getting more sophisticated, tactical, it now has a Navy after the capture of 21 gunboats in the Lake Chad basin.

How does Boko Haram operate with impunity undetected?

But what do i know. You may be right and if its really just conspiracy theory I am postulating I'll take down the writeup. No man is an island.

SLBMS:


Ok. But its not that simple as you espouse. Boko Haram does not have what it takes to hold its own against the combined armies of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, all backed up by U.S drone bases. It's virtually impossible. Not even ISIS can maintain such longevity. Boko Haram is getting more sophisticated, tactical, it now has a Navy after the capture of 21 gunboats in the Lake Chad basin.

How does Boko Haram operate with impunity undetected?

But what do i know. You may be right and if its really just conspiracy theory I am postulating I'll take down the writeup. No man is an island.

Nigerian soldiers are fighting boko haram but the Nigerian government isn't fighting boko haram. I'm an O-4 in an elite Force so I damn know what I'm talking about.

J111333:
The US when uninvited never interferes in one's affairs. They can only extend intelligence and whether the intelligence is utilized or not, it's not their business.

So you expect them to fight boko haram, are you paying the salaries of its personnel and for the ammunition?
Whenever Northerners want boko haram to end, it will end but for now, enjoy your next level without wailing.

You not making sense. The expressed reason given for the drone set up is to help in the fight not standby and watch because we are not paying the salaries of their personnel. The U.S did not spend $460 million and risk the political capital of backing autocratic regimes just to extend intelligence when they feel like. They are not there to fight. How does Boko Haram enjoy such longevity with this level of sophisticated surveillance platforms?

J111333:
Nigerian soldiers are fighting boko haram but the Nigerian government isn't fighting boko haram. I'm an O-4 in an elite Force so I damn know what I'm talking about.

So the soldiers deployed to the front what, soldiers of fortunes?

SLBMS:


You not making sense. The expressed reason given for the drone set up is to help in the fight not standby and watch because we are not paying the salaries of their personnel. The U.S did not spend $460 million and risk the political capital of backing autocratic regimes just to extend intelligence when they feel like. They are not there to fight. How does Boko Haram enjoy such longevity with this level of sophisticated surveillance platforms?

I want you to first of all get something into your head, the US isn't in Niger for your interest. Their own interests overrides everything forget what you read on the news. There's another interest in the desert part of West Africa but I won't go into that now. Don't ever believe the money is spent to help Africa in their shitty battle with their home grown and harbored terrorists.

J111333:
I want you to first of all get something into your head, the US isn't in Niger for your interest. Their own interests overrides everything forget what you read on the news. There's another interest in the desert part of West Africa but I won't go into that now. Don't ever believe the money is spent to help Africa in their shitty battle with their home grown and harbored terrorists.

Now you are contradicting yourself and proving my point. If the U.S is in for their own self interest (like it is) it means they are Boko Haram's longevity work in their own self interest as it is the reason giving by the U.S for establishing these bases. They know where Shekau is. They were they hide, they know how weapons are smuggled into Nigeria. They know in advance an impending Boko Haram attack and do nothing right. Boko Haram should be history by now.

Nigeria will overcome these obstacles believe me.

FarahAideed:


You are clearly mixing things up here , the 15 million dollars was siezed in 2014 during the Jonathan govt and the 5 billion dollars MTN fine was in 2016 by the Buhari govt meaning the fine couldn't have been what spited the South Africans to sieze the money

I thought I was the only one who noticed that mix up. If defensenigeria can't get their facts right on little things such as dates, then the article might be fraught with credibility issues.

FarahAideed:


You are clearly mixing things up here , the 15 million dollars was siezed in 2014 during the Jonathan govt and the 5 billion dollars MTN fine was in 2016 by the Buhari govt meaning the fine couldn't have been what spited the South Africans to sieze the money

Don't mind the ignorant liar. I didn't even bother to read further immediately I discovered some blatant lies.

He claimed that Boko Haram held 20something LGAs but 2015 elections held successfully in all the 776 LGAs and results subsequently announced without any reported incident of terrorist attack.

Contradictingly he claimed that Boko Haram was defeated in 2016 and they no longer held territories but between then and now they have killed more Nigerians especially the soldiers. What a contradiction.

realstars:
Boko haram stated from a group of men, trains by group of men, sponsors by some group of men,controls by some group of men, owns by some croup of men, defend by some group of men .
BuBu is the only one that knows this group of men.

.



A Child who would not allow his Mama to sleep would himself not taste sleep till daybreak.

ALLAHU AKBAR

SLBMS:


Ok. But its not that simple as you espouse. Boko Haram does not have what it takes to hold its own against the combined armies of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, all backed up by U.S drone bases. It's virtually impossible. Not even ISIS can maintain such longevity. Boko Haram is getting more sophisticated, tactical, it now has a Navy after the capture of 21 gunboats in the Lake Chad basin.

How does Boko Haram operate with impunity undetected?

But what do i know. You may be right and if its really just conspiracy theory I am postulating I'll take down the writeup. No man is an island.

.



Thanks.

SLBMS:


Ok. But its not that simple as you espouse. Boko Haram does not have what it takes to hold its own against the combined armies of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, all backed up by U.S drone bases. It's virtually impossible. Not even ISIS can maintain such longevity. Boko Haram is getting more sophisticated, tactical, it now has a Navy after the capture of 21 gunboats in the Lake Chad basin.

How does Boko Haram operate with impunity undetected?

But what do i know. You may be right and if its really just conspiracy theory I am postulating I'll take down the writeup. No man is an island.

.



Thanks for the Write up.

[Quote] USA and Nigeria are not a military allies [/quote]

SLBMS:
Its December 2016 and the Nigerian army has just done the impossible. It is pushed the world's deadliest terrorist group out of its last major stronghold in the Sambisa forest. A year before Boko Haram controlled an area the size of Costa -Rica, encompassing 21 local governments and cutting off 2 million Nigerians from the the rest of the country. Boko Haram did what Biafra, Chad and Cameroon tried but failed to achieve, hold take over and hold unto Nigerian territory for a year.

The Nigerain army had a hard time taking back these lost territories much less defeating Boko Haram in its main envlav in the Sambisa. But all that changed after the 2015 elections. The electoral violence and subsequent killing the U.S had predicted never materialized. Too bad for the 300 Marines Obama deployed to Ghana days before the election, ready to move in and evacuate Americans when the killings starts.

Subsequently in less than nine months the Nigerian army had not only taken back all lost territories, it had also dislodged Boko Haram from the 66,00 square kilometres Sambisa forest, the Impregnanble fortress of the group, a feat thought Impossible. 

It should be recalled that the Nigeria's attempt to replace weapons lost to attrition was countered by the Obama administration, who slammed an arm's embargo on Nigeria over its treatment of Boko Haram prisoners, an allegation supported by Amnesty International without concrete proof. Nigeria's arms agreement with Israel for the sale of Cobra attack helicopters was also torpedoed by the Obama administration, while Hillary Clinton, the joint architect of the destruction of Libya vehemently refused to have the U.S State Department officially recognize Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation, therefore requiring the U.S government by law to help the Nigerian military in its fight for survival. 

A month later a Hercules C-130 transport aircraft took off from a Pakistani airbase enroute to Nigeria. The aircraft was intercepted over Saudi airspace by F-15 fighters and forced to land. An inspection of the cargo revealed de-assembled french Gazelle helicopters. Needless to say the cargo was impounded.

The Nigerian government retaliated when a French chattered Antonov cargo aircraft was forced to land over Nigerian air space in Kano. The pilot's were detained by airport security after an inspection revealed several Gazelle helicopters. The French government insisted the consignments were for the Chadian airforce and demanded it be released.

The powers that be struck back, this time closer to home. A furor arose between Africa's two powerhouses when South African airport authorities seized $15 million meant for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian military from two Nigerian and Israeli agents who arrived the country in a private jet. South African agent found an invoice for helicopters and armament meant for Nigeria.

South Africa, earlier slightest by Nigeria's decision to slam an unprecedented mount of fine ($5 billion) on a South African company MTN saw this as an opportunity to embarrass the Nigerian government. The Nigerian government accused Pretoria of being a lap dog for the CIA. The South African government decried the comment as irresponsible and insisted Nigeria broke South Africa's laws by illegally smuggling in $15 million in cash.

Though the funds were returned after weeks, this incident was a wake up call for the Nigerian government. The West, Nigeria's traditional ally was determined to cripple Nigeria's war effort. Looking east was the logical option for Nigeria and they delivered.

Attack drones secretly procured from China, T-17M tanks from the Czech Republic and Mi-35M helicopter gunships from Russia were delivered without preconditions. No drama, no press release, just business.

With new weapons the Nigerian army abandoned its trenches and went scorched earth on Boko Haram. The Jihadi group Boko Haram did not see it coming neither were they prepared. 

The capture of Sambisa was an unexpected surprise. What happened next and the failure of the Nigerian intelligence Agency laid the foundation for the mess Nigeria finds itself in today, one in which there is almost no hope of escape.

Just weeks after the much publicized fall of Camp Zero in the Sambisa, the U.S military suddenly negotiated an agreement with the government of Niger to allow for the construction of a new military base and all associate infrastructure in the city of Agadez. Embedded in its request to Congress was $180 million for construction and support operations.


Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger.The largest Air man built project in the history of the United States Air Force.


Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger.The largest Air man built project in the history of the United States Air Force.


A hangar being built at a new U.S. drone base, officially known as Nigerien Air Base 201, in Agadez, Niger, April 15, 2018.
 Photo: Carley Petesch/AP

The Agadez Air Base 201 was now the largest air man-built project in the history of the worlds most powerful Air Force. 

The base was completed in less than three months. So the U.S spent a quarter of a billion dollars in the largest Air man built project in Air Force history in a remote desert in Niger Republic, one of the poorest country in the world, a country that had no strategic ecomomic or political value to the U.S.

Within weeks of the completion of the record breaking project, U.S President Barack Obama announced that the United States, the worlds oldest constitutional democracy is establishing another drone base in Cameroon and will deploy up to three hundred military personnel. A move that was enthusiastically welcomed by Africa's longest serving dictator Paul Biya. The drone base he said will provide intelligence support to Cameroon, Niger and Chadian military fighting Boko Haram.


Top: BIR soldiers in discussion with unidentified foreign personnel. The device in the background is the “skyhook” for a ScanEagle drone. Bottom: On top of containers referred to as “The Office,” there appears to be a communications array probably linked to the ScanEagle unmanned aerial system.
 Photos: Facebook


Between December 2013 and February 2015, two buildings appeared on the western side of Salak, and foundations were laid in the southwest corner for hangars. Photos: Google Earth
The world bastion of democracy that had no problem slamming an arm's embargo on Nigeria, the 4th largest democracy in the world and its biggest trading partner in Africa, was now strengthening its partnership with two of Africa's most ruthless authoritarian dictators, Chad and Cameroon. Idris Derby of Chad has ruled for 21 years and Paul Biya, currently holds the title of the world's longest serving dictatorship, holding power for 37 years.

With the establishment of the worlds most sophisticated surveillance drone base in Niger, Chad and Cameroon, the United States is now fully entrenched in the affairs of West Africa, and after investing over half  billion on these projects, it is virtually impossible for the U.S to abandon its investment and leave West Africa. They will be here forever, and history has shown that anywhere the U.S military set up shop, unrest, violence and even war comes shortly thereafter.

MQ-9 REAPER UAV

A single MQ-9 Reaper costs $16.9 million. The MQ-9 Reaper is arguably the world's most sophisticated an deadliest surveillance aircraft. Built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems , the MQ-9 Reaper is a 66 ft medium altitude aircraft used for ISR intelligence gathering and precision strikes against enemy targets. It provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using Hugh resolution synthetic apoeture radar  (SAR) and long range eoectri-optical/infrared (EQ/IR) sensors with long loiter time over target areas.

The MQ-9 carries the Huges integrated surveillance and reconnaissance sensor system. It integrates a ST MTI system along with an optical and thermography imager. All three sensors are controlled and their outputs filtered by a common processor and transmitted in real time t up to 50 Mbit/s to ground station.

The MQ-9 is capable of taking high resolution and infra red images as well as can intercept telephone and radio chatter. It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles or 100,000 km2 of terrain in a day. This is equivalent to the size of South Korea. These drones can cover every part of Nigeria's northeast and border area with relative ease.

The MQ-9 has a range of more than 12,000 nautical miles, can fly at very high altitudes of 60,000 ft and can keep loitering for around 34 hours without beak. This aircraft is without peer. One single MQ-9 Reaper drone unit carries more offensive punch than the entire Air Force fleet of all 16 ECOWAS states plus Cameroon and Chad combined. Although highly unlikely, the U.S can in theory decapitate the Nigerian government in one strike and nobody will know who was responsible.


Satellite antenna and sensors of a NOAA-NASA flight demonstrator. Wikipedia

To put the awesome power of this machine into perspective lets look at the strikes that killed the alleged mastermind of 9/11 and attacks on the USS Cole in Yemen. The U.S pilot operating the drone was in Djibouti, while the commander overseeing the operation was in Saudi Arabia. This drone has been responsible for killing both high level target in Iraq and A-Stan as well as possible targets such as insurgents spotted planting a roadside bomb.

The Reaper has a speed of 482km/h, fast enough for hovering back and forth in the skies in search of troop movements and destroy enemy personnel and vehicles on the move. This drone can fly about 9 times farther and twice as high as any aircraft in the NAF inventory with the exception of the F-7Ni interceptor.

One important thing to know about the Reaper is that they are deployed in groups of four. Each Reaper system consists of four individual Reaper drones operated by four different flight teams.

Make no mistake, these drones are active as you read this article. The U.S does not deploy a $16 million sophisticated drone to a $100 million base halfway across the world to sit on aircraft tarmacs. The operations of these UAVs are in motion 24 hours a day. So a team at a base in Iraq may be responsible for take off and landing but then hand over control to a team in Ethiopia. This way there are fewer teams overseas landing drones all day and more teams based in the USA who are responsible for the Reaper during the duration of its mission, which often lasts as long as a full 24 hours.


UAV Operators at Joint Base Balad (LSA Anaconda), Iraq, 20 April 2005

But in West Africa America is re-writing the rules of its drone operations. Since the capture of the Sambisa forest in December 2016 the U.S has negotiated, constructed and brought online a staggering four Reaper drone base. One in Garoua Cameroon, two in Agadez and Niamey, Niger Republic, one in Chad and one in Mali, all within the space of two years. This is the largest airmen built project in U.S Air Force history.

Assuming just one squadron of Reaper drone units are deployed to each country, there are around 28 of the world's deadliest most sophisticated combat drones all within 25 minutes flight time to the Nigerian border. This is the single largest concentration of Reaper drone bases outside the United States.

According to the USAF the Reapers main purpose is to hunt and kill enemy combatants constantly. So this begs the question, with so much Intelligence gathering, surveillance and strike platforms in the region how on earth is Boko Haram is still able to carry out attacks in broad day light for hours over and over and over again without detection?

How is Boko Haram able to move easily to and fro the borders into countries housing U.S drones, carry out training, reinforce its ranks, smuggle in weapons and launch more attacks without detection?

How is ISIS (like the U.S insists ) able to smuggle men and material from the Middle East all the way to Nigeria in absolutely stealth?

How does the U.S know ISIS is settinp shop in Nigeria? How come Boko Haram seems to be waxing stronger,getting more tactical , more sophisticated and more daring in its attack in the same period the U.S is increasing its footprint in West Africa?

How does Boko Haram carry out night attacks on Nigerian military bases without much night vision equipments. Attacking an army formation is no means an easy feat to pull. In entails a lot of Intelligence gathering on troop location, number of troops, weapons placement and defensive perimeters. This in turn entails a high level of real time intelligence gathering. If so where is Boko Haram getting its intelligence from?

These are the questions Nigerians have to ask since the Nigerian government has shown no interest in keeping an eye on the force build up on its borders and the terrible consequences that comes with it. 

There was no U.S drone presence when Boko Haram was forced to abandon it dream of a Caliphte and beat a hasty retreat back to the Sambisa, its impregnable fortress where it was ultimately forced to abandon and flee. Two years after the largest concentration of U.S drone bases in the world, Nigeria is worse off than it was before the presence of U.S forces.

Bok Haram is better trained, better armed, have access to real time intelligence and to make matters worse, the U.S now insists the ISIS threat has miraculously moved from Syria to Nigeria. This theoretically gives the U,S legal rights to go after ISIS in Nigeria.....what a stroke of luck and coincidence that the U.S just happened to have six drone bases at the right place at the right time in an area ISIS has decided to setup shop.

https://defensenigeria.blog/2019/07/08/the-real-reason-isis-is-moving-to-nigeria/

SLBMS:


You obviously lack a clear understanding of what this is all about, but I appreciate your comment.

the last time i checked Nigeria does no ally military with the west or the u.s....... Bokoharam started losing when cameroun , Niger, chad and the others started helping... With modern Western weapons.... Its funny how the op said we started winning the when we bought weapons from China....

Reasons why the west is interested in speeding up Nigeria's doom?

=Because of it's nuclear program ambition for electricity

Niger is very rich in uranium and shares border with Nigeria. Which makes it very easy to buy as much as to the point of a nuclear weapon grade(we just want electricity).

Niger and Nigeria are also very corrupt and reckless countries (terrorist can bribe their way in getting those materials needed to build a crude nuke).

West can't afford to have a country reckless and corrupt having nuclear materials in its hands, it will be a paradise for of all terrorist groups in the world.

So why not destabilize those countries before they build what they don't understand.

ANS= ISWAP, boko haram, bandits, fulani terrorists,
(and at one point even the Niger delta militants but those peeps were fighting for a reasonable cause that's why they had a ceasefire)

boldaslion:


Don't mind the ignorant liar. I didn't even bother to read further immediately I discovered some blatant lies.

He claimed that Boko Haram held 20something LGAs but 2015 elections held successfully in all the 776 LGAs and results subsequently announced without any reported incident of terrorist attack.

Contradictingly he claimed that Boko Haram was defeated in 2016 and they no longer held territories but between then and now they have killed more Nigerians especially the soldiers. What a contradiction.

Thanks for the insult Mr na u sabi pass. I vowed never to do more writeups on this site that has gone to the gutters where spewing profanities and discrediting ones work is the norm. Stupid ole me never learn. It's not your fault. I am the idiot who keeps making the same mistake. This site used to rank up there with Qura for mature discussions. What a cesspool of babies and madness it has become. Nonsense.

Lol,someone said the US doesn't interfere uninvited. When war is their stock in trade. Fact is with Nigeria gone or broken,the west will have uninterrupted access & control of Africa. We're being surrounded whether you like it or not. One Op once posted the same on nl,let me look for the thread. Africa is the latest prize now & it won't be to our benefit because both citizens & leaders have their heads stuck inside their asses. So many blocked minds & brains thinking they give a damn about you! Take a look at DRC. They'll rather respect/covert your resources.

Modified: Found the thread, find it funny it was by the same OP under another moniker. https://www.nairaland.com/4305377/drums-civil-war-looming/1#64433058