“Nigerian Soldiers 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]