The United States says it is ready to help the multinational task force currently fighting Boko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria, but will not unilaterally send troops to the region.
John Kirby, a rear admiral and the Pentagon press secretary, told the Wall Street Journal at the weekend that although the US was yet to receive an official request for troops from Nigeria, it is already discussing its participation in the multinational task force with African nations to assist the country.
The force currently has troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Kirby said the task force will be designed to help build up Nigeria’s own counterterrorism capabilities, but added: “These discussions are really just now starting. I can tell you that there are no plans as I speak here… unilaterally to send or to add U.S. troops into Nigeria.”
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The US has often been accused by Nigeria of failing to support the war against the terrorists.
President Goodluck Jonathan alluded to the allegation in the interview with Wall Street Journal, alleging that Boko Haram is receiving funding from the jihadist Islamic State which is based in Iraq and Syria.
“Are they (America) not fighting ISIS? Why can’t they come to Nigeria? …they are our friends. If Nigeria has a problem, then I expect the US to come and assist us,” he said.
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Some US legislators have said they want Special Forces troops shipped to Nigeria to help combat Boko Haram, the newspaper also reported.
The US currently conducts surveillance flights to monitor Boko Haram from its drone base in Chad, but there is no evidence that it has been helping Nigeria with intelligence.
Reports by Amnesty International have often accused the Nigerian military of committing atrocities against civilians and this has been cited as reason for America’s seeming aloofness in the war.
But, according to a report by TheCable, officials of the Jonathan administration believe the US attitude was shaped by American consultants to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
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AKPD, co-founded by an Obama associate, David Axelrod, has acted as political consultants to APC in the last one year.
Peter Pham, an adviser to the US Africa Command and Africa director at the Washington-based Atlantic Council, told the Wall Street Journal that Jonathan’s latest request marks “a 180-degree turn” in the prickly US-Nigeria ties.
21 comments
Mr President, keep fighting this war. Nigerians are with you. We do not think we should be over-excited by any offers of “friendship” at this moment by those who thought we did not deserve their friendship in the first place.
American help not needed at thistime! No longer necessary
Hypocrites they want to assist at the time we are winning the war so that the success will be alluded to them. I won’t be surprised if they hold the view that GEJ will be defeated through the advice of their citizens. Mr President success and victory are yours carry go
have they helped us to find chibok girls. this guys have not told us what they are up to
Wow
American or no American help, this evil people who want to dislodge Nigeria as nation in the name of useless Islamic extremism called boko haram will be defeated in JESUS NAME.
Pls ensure u get ur PVCs. GEJ all d way. Forward ever!
If American wants to help they should do it fast.
At least, now that Nigeria still remains one United entity.
It is long over do
@Yiljap and Alkaz tnx u both for ur sane comments (as its not coming 4rm those biased Haram apologists). I think the truth is beginning to dawn on the Americans. The APC has contorted lies & propagandas, all the same they are tying noose around their neck. The Lord is our strength & we believe will deliver our nation, Amen.
Do they want the entire Nigeria to die before they assist us? Why are they saying Nigeria has never discussed it with them? Did they not send some troops to nigeria last year?
To me, they are not ready to help fight this issues. They maybe waiting for the manifestation of their prediction that Nigeria will be divided by 2015.
God will help Nigeria.
If GEJ had expected the US to assist like he said, then it obviously means he can fight the battle alone. A war that is 6years down the line with no progress….? let’s get what ever help we can abeg. It will be sheer pride if we ask GEJ to go ahead when we know there’s little hope for success at the expense of more deaths. May God help us.
Any drastical messure required to stop this dehumanization by sons and doughters incanate of jezibel/lusifer/devil. Nothing on eath worth human blood. Therefore this nonsence should be put to and end by any means. Weldone Mr President.
If this is true, it then confirms my belief that d US has simply been pushing us – to ACT. I understand that, deep down, d US has a lot of expectations from Naija. Naija (leaders & negotiators) really need to learn from this – that it is virtually more advantageous to negotiate with these powers from a position of (relative) strength. They respect u & take u more seriously when u show them that u’re not only willing to take care of ur business BUT actually can act to prove it. Let’s watch & see.
I believe d US is not acting alone on this n ppl. just don’t see it . britain is behind all these problems n tell US not to lift a finger like they did during d Biafra war in d UN house. They get royalties from d northern rulers that they, brits always installed to get what they want n keep us from not moving forward . whether d US helps us or not, we’re winning d war against bh , d brits n d northern dummies they’ve bn using to destabilize us . GEJ is making a mark of showing we can make things rite n they’re conspiring to stop him to thwart d growth. God help us n bless us
The only permanent solution to this satanic people call boko haram is complete restructuring of the federation.
SORRY YOU ARE NOT WELCOME. NIGERIA MUST NOT ALLOW THESE HYPOCRITES BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING TO ACTUALIZE THEIR NIGERIA BREAKING UP PROPHECY BY CROOK AND HOOK. USA PLEASE CHANNEL YOUR ENERGY TO FIGHTING THE ISIS.
If the source of such news that US awaits Nigerian official invitation to assist with Boko Haram issue, that a line confirms that there isn’t no friend in business. US would be ready to help but on stringent conditions afterall every war is an economic war.The West cannot not do anything for nothing whether Iraq or Libya.
Mr President would have done this a long time, Why now, why at this time when you have other assipirants why fooling us why do u have to take long where thousands of people have lost there lives and homes have been destroyed why now.Should this question been asked to Mr president. (why now) What you could not tackle for 6 years you are now bragging you can destroy them for 6 weeks for me anybody that vote you in as benefitted from you in one way or the other. THINK
I have read all the different comments that people made.There are several assumptions that individuals made about why America should come to help Nigeria,especially at this time they saw that the Nigerian army with the African allied forces are already winning the war.My opinion is that it does not matter.Let’s set aside our naija shakara and face the reality.Nigeria is at war and people are dying every day.The war is witih the Boko haram.We do not want this war to escalate into a civil war for the nation.Boko haram is supported by a far more richer islamic state.They have more money than Nigeria.This war would never really end until they carve out an islamic country out of Nigeria which is their main aim.So let us gladly welcome the Americans into our country to help fight the boko haram.They would unite rather than break up the nation.America is an expert in fighting against the islamic terror groups all over the world and permanently deafeating and silencing them.Examples could be seen in Iraq,Afghanistan,Libya,Pakistan and presently Syria in fighting against the Isis.The islamic states backing up the boko haram to carve out an islamic country out of Nigeria would not give up until they see their arch enemy America as one of our allies.They are only scared of America
Book or not Boko.Baba GEJ carry go will Niger love u