Efforts by
the Nigerian military to procure US-made Chinook helicopters from Israel, to
facilitate the movement of troops and the injured, have been blocked by the United
States Government, THISDAY has learnt.
This, among
other issues, including the US’ refusal to provide Nigeria’s security agencies
with timely intelligence needed to defeat Boko Haram insurgents who have been
riding rough shod in the North-east, would form part of the discussions when
President Goodluck Jonathan meets with US President Barack Obama in New York
this week.
Jonathan
departed for New York on Sunday for the 69th General Assembly of the United
Nations.
The Chinook
is a versatile and reliable American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift
helicopter produced by Boeing. Its primary roles are troops movement, artillery
placement and battlefield resupply.
In a war
where Boko Haram insurgents move in convoys through arid towns and villages,
the helicopters are required to checkmate them, reinforce troops and supplies
and recover dead and wounded soldiers.
Although it
has a number of variants and is used primarily for the transportation of
troops, supplies and search and rescue operations, limited weaponry can be
mounted on its door and window for the purpose of enemy attacks.
However,
according to defence and intelligence sources, attempts to buy the helicopters
and other munitions from, first the US and other Western European countries,
have proved to be an impossible task, thus compelling the military to resort to
Israel and several retired members of the Israeli defense forces.
Opening up
on the challenges the Nigerian military has faced dealing with the procurement
of arms for the war effort in the North-east, a knowledgeable official, who did
not want to be named as he was not authorised to speak with the press, said:
“The US government has frustrated Nigeria all the way in our war against
terrorism despite its public statements in support of Nigeria, as it fights the
Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east… They want us to fight Boko Haram with
our arms tied to our backs.
“They have
refused to sell us arms and equipment and even our recent attempt to buy Chinook
helicopters, which are manufactured in the US, from the Israelis was blocked,
based on unfounded allegations of human rights violations by our troops. This
is after the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu had initially approved
the purchase.
“But because
they were supplied by the Americans, the Israelis required a ‘No Objection’
letter from Washington which was refused.
“We had even
tried to procure arms from Russia but this was stalled because of the Ukrainian
crisis, thus compelling us to turn to other nations like Israel. But even this
has been frustrated by the US,” he said.
He said it was not just in the area of arms procurement that US has been most unhelpful, adding that contrary to its public stance that it was assisting in the rescue operations of the abducted Chibok secondary school girls it has done nothing significant to help Nigeria in this regard.
He said it was not just in the area of arms procurement that US has been most unhelpful, adding that contrary to its public stance that it was assisting in the rescue operations of the abducted Chibok secondary school girls it has done nothing significant to help Nigeria in this regard.
Other
intelligence sources also cited the fact that the US has refused to share
intelligence with Nigerian security forces in a timely manner.
They said: “When we complained they started sharing some intelligence, but days after the fact when such intelligence is of little value.
They said: “When we complained they started sharing some intelligence, but days after the fact when such intelligence is of little value.
“They have
blocked us from procuring the helicopters and would not provide us with
intelligence despite the fact that they have several drones and sophisticated
aircraft overflying the North-east of Nigeria from bases in Niger and Chad
where the Boko Haram fighters and movements are clearly in their sights.
“This belies
their stance they want to help us to defeat the terrorists and help to rescue
the Chibok girls.”
Indeed, a
security analyst who spoke to THISDAY on the issue said the US’ role smacks of
double standards and questioned its intent over the Boko Haram insurgency.
He warned
that ignoring the threat of Boko Haram could be a strategy that could come to
haunt the US in the future.
He also
wondered why the same US would refuse to assist Nigeria based on
unsubstantiated claims of human rights violations, which the military has
repeatedly denied and insisted are carried out by Boko Haram insurgents wearing
Nigerian military uniforms, yet the same US turns a blind eye to the same human
rights violations committed by countries like Israel.
“Look at
what happened in the recent war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip.
Israel repeatedly bombed school compounds and UN buildings and in the process
killed scores of women and children.
“Even the UN cried out against the targeting of its facilities by Israeli forces, yet the US did nothing and will continue to supply arms and ammunition to Israel to defend itself against Palestinians and other hostile neighbours in the Middle East,” the security analyst said.
“Even the UN cried out against the targeting of its facilities by Israeli forces, yet the US did nothing and will continue to supply arms and ammunition to Israel to defend itself against Palestinians and other hostile neighbours in the Middle East,” the security analyst said.
Efforts by
THISDAY to get the White House to respond to the allegations were not
successful.
Two
questions to the White House and the US National Security Adviser’s office
which were unanswered as at press time are: The Nigerian military, through its
agents, tried to buy Chinook helicopters for the prosecution of the war against
terrorism, from Israel. But this was blocked by the U.S. National Security
Council and the White House. If so, why was the procurement blocked?; and the
decision to block the procurement of the helicopters may have stemmed from
U.S.’ concerns over human rights abuses by Nigerian troops who have been
fighting the insurgents in the North-eastern part of the country. Does this not
appear contradictory given the fact that the
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Forget the US, buy from Russia. The 40 attack helicopters we paid for from the US. Only 2 have been supplied..
ReplyDeleteWhat obama is looking for is how Nigeria will break_up. But God will not allow him. Who know if there are supter of BH. Don.
ReplyDelete