An American security group, Arms and Security Project, has called on President Barack Obama not to extend military air to Nigeria, citing human rights abuses by Nigerian soldiers among other reasons.
in a letter widely published in the US, William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project and a senior adviser to the Security Assistance Monitor, said “the Obama administration should think twice before ramping up assistance to Nigeria’s security forces. Increasing military aid to an unreliable partner can often do more harm than good. Given its history of corruption and human rights abuses, it is extremely unlikely that the Nigerian military can make effective use of additional American aid.
“Data compiled by the Security Assistance Monitor indicates that the United States has trained more than 28,000 Nigerian military personnel. While this includes training to participate in peacekeeping efforts, Nigerian forces continue to be involved in killing civilians, including unarmed demonstrators, and engaging in torture routinely at home.
“And at a congressional hearing last year, a State Department official said that corruption was so rampant that even basic equipment like bullets and transport vehicles were not making it to the front lines of the war with Boko Haram.
“Until there is evidence that the Nigerian military can improve its record on corruption and human rights, sending more American advisers to help in the fight against Boko Haram is likely to be counterproductive.”
It would be recalled that during the swearing-in of Muhammadu Buhari as the new president last Friday, the Obama administration signaled that it was prepared to expand military cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram.
Secretary of State John Kerry, who led the American delegation at the inauguration, discussed cooperation against Boko Haram in a short meeting on Friday with Mr. Buhari.
“Something we can do quickly is to send advisers,” said a senior State Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under the department’s protocol for briefing reporters. “It could be related to intelligence; it could be something very simple, related to things like logistics.”