“Boots on floor” – Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations will get large increase as US confirms deployment of troops
The Pentagon has confirmed plans to deploy about 200 troops to Nigeria within the coming weeks to coach the nation’s army in counterterrorism operations.
A United States official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate operational issues, stated the troops would reinforce a small workforce of US forces already in Nigeria aiding native troopers with figuring out potential terrorist targets utilizing joint US and Nigerian intelligence.
The extra personnel shall be stationed at varied areas throughout the nation to offer coaching and technical experience, however is not going to take part in fight operations, the official added.
The upcoming deployment was first reported by The Wall Road Journal.
The transfer comes weeks after President Donald Trump criticised Nigeria for what he described as a failure to guard Christians from terrorist assaults, and threatened to intervene militarily over alleged “Christian genocide”.
Trump had additionally threatened to make sure that there are ” boots on floor” in Nigeria if the terrorist assaults proceed.
On December 25, US Navy warships, aided by Nigerian intelligence, launched 16 Tomahawk missiles at targets in northwest Nigeria, which Trump described because the “terrorist scum” answerable for killing Nigerian Christians.
The missile strike, reportedly valued at about $32 million, adopted sustained lobbying by Christian activists, Republican lawmakers and American public figures who urged Washington to intervene in Nigeria’s long-running safety disaster.
The violence in Nigeria has concerned clashes over land, kidnappings for ransom, sectarian tensions and rebel assaults, with hundreds of Muslims and Christians killed in recent times.
US army officers stated the December strikes focused Islamic State-affiliated terrorists, and that greater than three dozen suspects have been subsequently arrested by Nigerian authorities.
Nevertheless, some residents within the affected areas reportedly stated the missiles struck empty fields and deserted militant hideouts.
The US Africa Command, led by Common Dagvin R.M. Anderson, stated it’s working with Nigerian and regional companions to accentuate counterterrorism cooperation in opposition to extremist {groups}, together with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.
“Africa Command is working with our Nigerian and regional companions to extend counterterrorism cooperation efforts associated to ongoing violence and threats in opposition to harmless lives,” Anderson stated after the December strikes.
“Our aim is to guard People and disrupt violent extremist organisations wherever they’re,” he added.