Abuja-A delegation of U.S. congress men and women on Tuesday, pledged improved military cooperation between the U.S. and the Nigerian military in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.
The leader of the delegation, Mr Darrell Issa, who made the pledge at a news conference in Abuja, said the Leahy Law had not limited U.S. assistance against Boko Haram.
Issa, who spoke alongside other congress delegates, said nothing in the current U.S. law prevented it from giving Nigeria the necessary support in the fight against Boko Haram.
“Nothing on the current U.S. law prevents full cooperation and technical support or training for the Nigerian military and for all the departments of government.
“Nothing in the law prevents the U.S. Agency for International Development from its full engagement throughout Nigeria.
“Nothing in the law will stop the U.S. from providing any and all assistance to the Nigerian military,” he said.
Issa said that the level of willingness of the U.S. to support Nigeria had always been the same.
“The commitment from President Obama to President Buhari was: `we will give you all you need, just tell us what you want’.
“That bold statement by President Obama tells a great deal. The U.S. has been involved in training the Nigerian military and it stands ready to do a great deal of more,” he said.
He explained that the Nigerian military did not need equipment more than training adding.
“The number one thing that we can bring to this government is professionalising the military.
“Your military does not lack basic firearms; it does not lack basic ability to buy ammunition on the international market.
“It didn’t even lack drums which it purchased from China. In the meantime, there is a greater level of military training that is needed; that we would provide,” he said.
He said the U.S. would continue to provide some of the most high-level surveillance and tactical assistance flown by U.S. to support the hunting down of the insurgents.
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Issa said the U.S. would continue to provide humanitarian relief to the North East and other areas in need.
“U.S. has contributed half a billion dollars a year of USAID support. We have contributed countless billions of dollars of military and large ships to the Navy.
“We continue to bring in as many soldiers including a most elite special forces to train the military in fighting techniques. We would continue to do that.
“U.S. has been a partner in Nigeria, around Africa and around the globe in providing the intelligence and the capability at all levels and we will continue to,” he said.
On whether U.S. supported negotiating with Boko Haram, Issa said there was always a need for a truce so as to negotiate peace and reconciliation.
He, however, said “we do not tell sovereign nations what to do; we provide technical assistance including assistance in conflict resolution,” he said.
Another congress delegate, Sheila Lee, said Boko Haram was no longer a Nigerian but an international problem.
Lee urged all Nigerians to be united, irrespective of ethnic, religious and regional affiliation, to defeat the Boko Haram crisis.
“When one of our states in the U.S. is under siege, no matter what our respective political affiliation, whoever the President is, we come together as one.
“That is the first immediate response that is necessary and we have made this point in every level of government meetings most recently with your leadership and House leadership.
“Nigeria will have to join with Multinational Forces along with a stated help from the African Union. You cannot receive if you do not ask”, she said.
“She said the U.S. would be present and ready within its laws to continue what it has been able to do to help Nigeria overcome insecurity.
“My last sentences to Boko Haram: we will find you wherever you are and we ask that you recognise the human dignity of all people,” she said.
The delegation, which also included Federica Wilson and Randolph Farenthold, met with leaders and members of Bring Back Our Girls. (NAN)