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.
While
receiving a delegation of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations
yesterday, the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Professor Ade
Adefuye said both the Nigerian people and the government feel abandoned
by America.
“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.”
“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”.
“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.
“A stable and secure Nigeria is an invaluable asset to America,” Mr. Adefuye concluded.
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