Claims that the country’s authorities are deploying hundreds of foreign mercenaries to fight the Boko Haram insurgence have been described as frivolous and an attempt to portray the Nigerian military in bad light.
Senior military commanders described the claims which were reported in select international media and culled by some local newspapers as “a joke taken too far”.
The officers however said that the so called mercenaries are foreign technical advisers that are providing trainings and instructions on the use of new armaments recently procured by the Nigerian military in the war on terror.
Some top commanders who spoke with the media under the condition of anonymity, disclosed that it is part of propaganda to paint Nigerian military as incompetent to deal with the insurgency by desperately ascribing recent successes recorded to ‘others,’ rather than the gallant troops’ efforts.
The source alluded that only recently, some news agencies ascribed such successes to Cameroonian, Nigerien and Chadian forces but when it became obvious that the forces of those countries were mainly fighting along their own border areas blocking free movement of terrorists, it became necessary to look for others who are helping Nigerians to fight.
It was further learnt that the foreigners spotted in Maiduguri and other areas close to the battlefront are technical partners who are helping to train Nigerian forces on how to operate and maintain the recently acquired equipment which came from different sources.
The source cited the particular example of a maintenance technician, who died recently, insisting that he was not even a combatant but a professional in fixing armoured vehicles.
The source recalled with regrets, that for several years Nigeria wasted time negotiating and appealing for equipment supply from the Western allies which he said were not only rebuffed but prevented other countries under their direct influence from selling to Nigeria.
“The fact that we have foreign experts outside the United States helping to train our troops is not a secret but it is not fair for them to embark on this blackmail simply because we got assistance from other places when they turned us down at a critical period”, the source stated.
Director of defence Information Maj Gen Chris Olukolade who was contacted on the reported mercenaries, said “Sorry, I don’t have anything about that claim. I just know that Nigerian military and security forces are putting in all their resources, training and experience acquired over the years to address the security challenges.
“Our neighbours operating under the auspices of the Multinational Joint Task Force are also backing our efforts from all our borders with them. We also have some offer of training and intelligence assistance from foreign countries. Some of these arrangements even predate the present operations.”
Troops Discover Bomb Making Factory In Yobe
Meanwhile, troops embarking on the on-going cordon and search in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State have discovered a bomb making factory, where improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used by Boko Haram terrorists were being produced. A quantum of IEDs, including those commonly used by suicide bombers were recovered from the site.
A statement from the Director of Defence Information, said the factory, which was located in a fertilizer company, has also converted some of the materials therein for production of all types of IEDs. He further said that troops were still evacuating the materials which include a large quantity of suicide bomber vests from the facility to their base. It is believed that the heavy calibre bomb used in blowing up the bridge between Damaturu and Buni Yadi was produced in the factory.
“The terrorists were sacked from Buni Yadi after a military assault that was conducted last Saturday. The troops advance was delayed by the series of IEDs planted on the highway leading to Buni Yadi. Four soldiers died from such IEDs in the course of the operation to clear terrorists from the town.
“This discovery is expected to degrade the capability of terrorists in the production of explosives, which they have been using lavishly in the area until they were dislodged from their stronghold,” Olukolade said.
No comments:
Post a Comment