Buhari Accuses US Gov't Of Aiding, Abetting Boko Haram
Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari and US President Obama
Nigeria’s President, Muhhamadu Buhari, has accused the United States of indirectly aiding and abetting the atrocities of Boko Haram terrorists by refusing to let Nigeria have access to much needed military arsenal to fight to quell the six-year insurgency.
Speaking on Wednesday in Washington DC where he addressed a section of people at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) as part of his four-day trip to America, Buhari frowned at the use of the ‘Leahy Law’ by the US government to deny Nigeria weapons based on unsubstantiated human rights abuses by the Nigerian military.
Hear President Buhari, “Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the application of the Leahy Law amendment by the U. S. Government has aided and abetted the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist ideology and hate, the indiscriminate killings and maiming of civilians, in raping of women and girls, and in their other heinous crimes.”
The President however expressed his belief that the US would not want the Boko Haram carnage to continue, and demanded that America provide Nigeria with “far more substantial counter-terrorism assistance with minimal strings”, especially as Nigerian troops have re-written their rules engagement to better protect the rights of combatants and civilians.
He said: “In our efforts at combating the activities of Boko Haram, the new Government has sought and obtained the support of not only our neighbours other international friends and partners.
“Regrettably, the blanket application of the Leahy Law by the United States on the grounds of unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against our forces has denied us access to appropriate strategic weapons to prosecute the war against the insurgents.”
Continuing, Buhari said: “Our forces have remained largely impotent because they do not possess the appropriate weapons and technology which they could have had, had the so-called human rights violations not been an obstacle.
“Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the application of the Leahy Law amendment by the U. S. Government has aided and abetted the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist ideology and hate, the indiscriminate killings and maiming of civilians, in raping of women and girls, and in their other heinous crimes.”
Consequently, the Nigerian president has appealed to both the Executive Arm and the US Congress to examine how the US Government can provide Nigeria with far more substantial counter-terrorism assistance with minimal strings.
Read: Breaking News
See Others: Home Page
Follow us on twitter @SkytrendNews
Share your thought about this story. Leave a comment here, or sms/call us on 0803 239 3958. Send your rejoinders and articles to editor@skytrendnews.com. Follow Skytrend News On Facebook
{fcomment}