Crime News
“Nigerian Soldiers Afraid Of Fighting Boko Haram Terrorists” – US Air Force Chief Of Staff
May 17, 2014 – “Nigerian Military Afraid Of Fighting Boko Haram Terrorists” – US Air force Chief Of Staff
Few days after US Marines were moved from Nigeria to Sicily, US General Mark Welsh hinted that the United States might limit its involvement in the ongoing search for the kidnapped school girls in Borno state because the Nigerian Military are very afraid of the dreaded extremists.
While speaking on Thursday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the US Air Force Chief of staff, Gen. Mark Welsh III, said, “We’re now looking at a military force that is, quite frankly, becoming afraid to even engage. The United States doesn’t have the capacity, the capability to go rescue every kidnapped person around the world.”
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the US had questioned the ability of the Nigerian military to rescue the girls even with international help.
The Pentagon’s Principal Director for African Affairs, Alice Friend, also said, “The Nigerian military has the same challenges with corruption that every other institution in Nigeria does. Much of the funding that goes to the Nigerian military is skimmed off the top, if you will.”
US officials have also said that its involvement had also been made difficult because Nigerian officials ignored past warnings to soften brutal tactics that only fuelled the Boko Haram’s insurgency.
At Thursday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, officials condemned the kidnappings and committed American aid to help rescue the girls. But they also expressed frustration at Nigeria’s political and military leaders for failing to heed Washington’s warnings about the extremist group.
“We have been urging Nigeria to reform its approach to Boko Haram,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Robert Jackson, said.
He added, “From our own difficult experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, we know that turning the tide of an insurgency requires more than force. The state must demonstrate to its citizens that it can protect them and offer them opportunity. When soldiers destroy towns, kill civilians and detain innocent people with impunity, mistrust takes root.”
A retired Head of the US military’s Africa Command, Gen. Carter Ham, said, “My sense is that US Government will remain in a supporting role to Nigeria. I do not think the U.S.G. will seek unilateral action.”
The size of the Sambisa Forest is also believed to make the search for the girls difficult.
“We are basically searching for these girls in an area that’s roughly the size of West Virginia, so it’s a tough challenge, to be sure,” state Department spokesman, Marie Harf, said on Thursday.
[Sources: NAN, PUNCH]
Nifemi
May 17, 2014 at 3:55 PM
this country is finished without God dis terrorists will wipe nigeria out
i fear for my life o
suggestion
May 17, 2014 at 4:20 PM
I think the Government should replace the leader’s with capable people who are not from the north because they maybe working together with the boko Haram Terrorist because i can’t imagine how trained military men will be afraid when civilians are out there finishing the boko Haram without any Good weapon
Peter narh tanihu
May 17, 2014 at 4:21 PM
Nigerial military are for bribery. From Ghana to nigerial by road, you pay alot to so called security check point, the Govement should sack them. Good for nothing people
id.he
May 17, 2014 at 6:30 PM
@ peter narh and others that humiliated nigerian military are fools ,because you are not here to no wot is hapening.how many countries in africa can compare wit us in combat even the world at last knows our capacity in combat.so keep your useless mouth short and be watching us.
Mia
May 17, 2014 at 5:40 PM
Nigeria is not qualified for independence
AK
May 17, 2014 at 6:08 PM
I think it is time we have a real referendum in this country. Biafra is on standby to be self independent nation and am sure other region will do same. When the army top brass only embezzles money meant for field operations and no one could be brought to trial why? The ruling bodies are all but corrupt.
Who will fight our battle in this nation called Nigeria? We lost bakkasi peninsula through a ruling by a European kangaroo court and we gave up on bakassi to Cameroun. Vladimir Putin refused to be caged by all the super powers he claimed Crimea for Russian Federation. Now few elements threatening the existence of this nation cannot even be defeated despite having all the super powers bragging to come to our aid now the Americans are singing different music. “They cannot unilaterally bring down boko haram” . Whatever the intention or mission of Americans to gain full entry and permission on our sovereign state I think it should all be withdrawn with immediate effect as they said they cannot do it as they have promised.
This is a sign to encourage vigilante groups and locals taking up arms to defend ourselves and it only points to civil war. May God almighty fight our battle. Abeg make I go collect my international passport begin put documents together make I do Andrew too oo.
OLAOSEBIKAN
May 17, 2014 at 9:01 PM
You have intelligently encapsulated the hopeless status the Nigerian State has found itself at this moment but I do not totally agree the standby State of Biafra you mention will totally find peace even there’s avenue for sessesions. Frangmented or devided Nigeria will not help any of the segregated sections achieve a peaceful internal co-existence of any measure. The story of Ukrainian example you gave is a testimony to the facts that separations alone is not a panacea for peace, rather a difficult choice to begin another internal intra ethnic group supremacy struggle. Souht Sudan is typical example of agitations for separations that took wars to achive over several decades, only to begin an intra ethnic civil war in less than a year of attaining Independence, over the reasons of who controls and benefits from the natural resouces of the region.
Therefore Mr AK the solution to the Nigerian problem is surmountable if we put our hearts to solving it as a nation with dedications, resilient and partriotism. Note that there’s no nation in this world without its own problems to deal with. Nonetheless, being a segmented smaller unit has its own problems. There is a lot of advantages and strenght in numbers otherwise Russia and China with their sizes and resouces would have seen the wisdom to continue to fight for territories even with a threat of war if need be. Nigeria I can assure Mr. AK is better off as one united country than the “Standby” Biafran nation you are dreaming of. LONG LIVE NIGERIA.
OLAOSEBIKAN
May 17, 2014 at 6:15 PM
That is exactly what corruption does to a society, why will the Nigerian army not be engulfed in corruptions;? they are part of a corrupt system that poduced them which the Nigeria nation has superitended for decades. A nation where most retired military Generals have become billioniares and living with ill-gotten wealth while the largest members of the societies still wallow in abject poverty. What do you expect their succeeding Generals currently in the barracks to do if not loot the resources of the military meant to protect all Nigerian, in times like this Boko Haram invations. These are the same military retirees who are making a comeback into Nigerian politicts to finish off the rest of their insatiable urge to loot the nation Nigeria. Nigeria is no doubt doomed forever.
MICHAEL PAMDOLA
May 18, 2014 at 1:07 AM
When IBB and his cohorts were stealing monies meant to develop and improve the living standard of millions of poor Nigerians; especially those military leaders from the northern poor enclave of Nigeria, they may have thought the metal walls they had hoped would protect them inside their hilltop mansions would be enough to shield them forever from facing the anger of the deprived in the society of which Boko Haram is a pet baby. These set of leaders Nigeria had in the past who by their deeds nurtured and grew today’s violent descerning characters should be ashamed of their contributions to what Nigeria has become today.
Certainly, no parts of Nigeria is adequately surficient in socio economic development; how does one explain a region that has good number of home grown billioniares whose combined efforts is surprisingly unable to reduce poverty in forms of job creation in support of what State Governments are able to provide. The average northern rich person prefers to be called a phillantropist of sort, by pretending to give alms on fridays, albeit with a mindset of erroneously paving his way to heaven; instead of thinking of how to help alleviate poverty among the society within which he lives. Any wonder why Boko Haram evolved from joblessness into a very very formidable terrorist organisation with a worldwide connections that has bounced back to take their pound flesh from the very people who looted their common wealth.
While the rest of the country try to educate their younger ones and or encourage them to learn some kind of trade to prepare them for the future; the north discounted Western Education to an extent; for the Quranic Education, which in itself is not a bad idea, but how could a society live for and invest a whole generation into the course of a religion, millions of who are jobless today and are prepared to die for upholding the tennet of a religion; without thinking of the terrible repurcusions of its future sustainability, which today we all are made to bare the brunt. The solutions to Boko Haram is creation of jobs for the idle minds up there who are in their millions.
consort
May 17, 2014 at 6:54 PM
So is expected of a country as such
ebgon
May 17, 2014 at 10:14 PM
corruption has eaten deep into that society called Nigeria. We need a general Rallings of Ghana to correct this.
Metu Nyetu
May 17, 2014 at 10:49 PM
D Nigerian Army maintains a good record in peace-keepn missions acros Africa. Wat den has hapnd 2dem dat they’r now dreadfl of Boko Haram? Or is it nw like wen d Roman soldiers mockd Jesus saying, “He saved odas. Let’s c if He’d save himself.”
Dis whole cause is getn complic8d day afta day. D US marines say they cnt unilaterally rescue those kids, & they hav withdrawn 2 Sicily wdout recordn any success. I wonda y they came in d 1st place. A certain wierd analysis has it dat d US intends 2 use Boko Haram 2 actualise their prediction dat Nigeria would disintegr8 com 2015. Maybe dat is correct afterall.
Dr.Kay.
May 17, 2014 at 11:27 PM
The formal Secretary of the state Mrs. Hilary Clinton has already said it that the Nigerian government is nothing but embezzling our oil money and in prove corruption. I think I like francophone country where I reside because a lot of peace and freedom of lives . Prayers is what is needed in our Naija.
Dan
May 18, 2014 at 1:06 AM
Do not be fooled.
When you send the same Army JTF to other countries to quell their civil wars, they come back with accolades. The general and other Army officers are refusing to call a spade a spade. A lot of the Army officers are Muslims. Do you think they will be psyched to kill jihadists? If you have half your Army not psyched up, you already lost. Even the terrorists know this.
MICHAEL PAMDOLA
May 18, 2014 at 1:12 AM
When IBB and his cohorts were stealing monies meant to develop and improve the living standard of millions of poor Nigerians; especially those military leaders from the northern poor enclave of Nigeria, they may have thought the metal walls they had hoped would protect them inside their hilltop mansions would be enough to shield them forever from facing the anger of the deprived in the society of which Boko Haram is a pet baby. These set of leaders Nigeria had in the past who by their deeds nurtured and grew today’s violent descerning characters should be ashamed of their contributions to what Nigeria has become today.
Certainly, no parts of Nigeria is adequately surficient in socio economic development; how does one explain a region that has good number of home grown billioniares whose combined efforts is surprisingly unable to reduce poverty in forms of job creation in support of what State Governments are able to provide. The average northern rich person prefers to be called a phillantropist of sort, by pretending to give alms on fridays, albeit with a mindset of erroneously paving his way to heaven; instead of thinking of how to help alleviate poverty among the society within which he lives. Any wonder why Boko Haram evolved from joblessness into a very very formidable terrorist organisation with a worldwide connections that has bounced back to take their pound flesh from the very people who looted their common wealth.
While the rest of the country try to educate their younger ones and or encourage them to learn some kind of trade to prepare them for the future; the north discounted Western Education to an extent; for the Quranic Education, which in itself is not a bad idea, but how could a society live for and invest a whole generation into the course of a religion, millions of who are jobless today and are prepared to die for upholding the tennet of a religion; without thinking of the terrible repurcusions of its future sustainability, which today we all are made to bare the brunt. The solutions to Boko Haram is creation of jobs for the idle minds up there who are in their millions.
Dan
May 18, 2014 at 1:16 AM
I am surprised though that the US is pulling off saying it cannot put boots on the ground everywhere a kidnapping takes place in the world. This is a peculiar situation(200+ innocent girls) that they can help nip in the bud now. They were wailing at Obama to go to Syria form the get go before it turned into the mess it is right now, and see what happened there. Now is the time to take a strong stance and decapitate these cowards called Boko whatever.
topsy
May 18, 2014 at 11:51 AM
It is a shame for our politicians as an independent nation seeking military assistance from around the world to deal with our domestic threat such as Boko Haram. I can’t see any reason why we have to carry on like this. if our leaders aren’t fit for purpose. This is not just about the president alone, but the entire political family/parties in Nigeria. Come to think of it. Many of our leaders are so out of touch. Just few weeks passed, Our almighty first lady went global shedding crocodile tears over the abducted innocent girls due to the abject incompetence of those that matters in protecting our nation. Imagine our first lady telling people of her intention to help find their children for them. Since when has the first lady become the commander in chief of federal republic of Nigeria without changing the constitution. My fear is, Nigeria will continue to be misruled unless Mr president act as required by Nigerian constitution. Not sharing the title with the first lady.
Vero
May 18, 2014 at 12:36 PM
The diffz between Hollywood movies and reallywood is about to play out. those that believe American will just come in and rescue those girls and kill Boko Haram within 5 days are talking about Hollywood American action film. In reallywood, American will not confront Boko haram one on one without using Nigeria Army, because Americans have seen a lot of fighting and they are totally tired of combat though they are not very good without air support. In reallywood, American fight or killed the last Boko fighters and bring back our girls, Americans will never go and all their mission for Nigeria 2015 is their best priority. the issue of the girl and bokos is just a perfect scenario to come in and fertile the land for CIA base in west Africa
Diplomatic cbi
May 18, 2014 at 1:27 PM
I tink dis period ofers us d best oportunity to peruse, medidate, sleep over, if posible ruminet over dis whole social cum political quagmire and malfeasance in our society today.. Individuals, societies, religious institutns had or ar stil rendering one or two prayer points for d beterment of dis country. Atleast as a catholic, we hav gone from lines of litanic prayers to anoda. Presently, d prayer universaly suplicated among d roman catholic faithfuls is ‘prayer for nigeria in distres’. One tin dat pertubes me and left me in confused state is d more we do dis, d most coruptns and detestful news are lining out day in, day out.. My question is- when did we get to dis stage ? Some days ago d news had it dat one lieunant general in borno, wit his men were ambushd and lynched by bokoharams bcus of martial ineficiency, coruptn and d likes. They were carelesly calld and orderd to abort an ofensive against boko haram. A suposed airforce fighters dat shud hav forego in aiding capacity for d attack sudenly did nt show up. In protest to dis, army boys were infuriated to their bodies breem dat they had to show off by mutinizin their Goc comanding d 7 division. In further enquiring , d army boys complaind biterly how their ogas has always bin instrumenta to their failure makin it luks as though bokoharam is having uper hand against them. Security votes wich shud be for rehabitatn, refurbishment, welfare and new purchase for modern day fighting tools are syphoned by d unscrupulous top military men. One wondas why dis boys ar undaequipd to fight bokoharam.. I tink we hav com to a stage, where evryone of us must questn his or her sincerity towards our secular existenc in dis country.. Havnt we had enough kilings ? Foregn military and inteligential aids dat hav arived dis country can do nothin unles our domestic khaki boys makes d avenue favorable. God bless Nigeria.
red
May 19, 2014 at 3:29 PM
MORE CONFUSION ! !!