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| What is the United States benefiting from Boko Haram? |
Despite official statements from the United States, overtly condemning
Boko Haram and their atrocities in Nigeria, the United States posture indicates
that the U.S. does not want the Islamic terror group to be eradicated. It
almost appears that the United States, is gaining from the continued attacks of
the jihadi group in Nigeria.
One thing Boko has made so clear is its ultimate goal, which is
to: i. depose Jonathan’s administration, ii. convert or kill all Christians in
Nigeria (mainly Biafrans), and make Nigeria an Islamic Caliphate. This is in line
with the ideology of ISIS and other Islamic jihadi groups across the world. The Biafran thus asks: Is
this what the United States wants for Nigeria? Do they want Nigeria to be Islamized
or they simply want the country to breakup?
The Biafran
recalls that it took years and petitions from Biafrans for the United States to
officially recognise Boko Haram as a terror group. It is also almost six months
since American ‘experts’ and spy drones have been in Nigeria searching for Boko
Haram terrorists and Chibok girls, allegedly kidnapped from Bornu State by Boko
Haram, yet nothing tangible has come of it. It is thus very baffling
considering the might and power of the United States, that the hideouts of the
Boko Haram leader is yet to be found.
The latest sabotaging of Goodluck Jonathan’s effort to combat
Boko Haram, by the United States, was their refusal to allow Nigeria buy arms
from them or any other country. They United States cited human rights abuses by
Nigerian soldiers as the reason for denying Nigeria access to military hardware
the country believed would help combat the terrorists. However, it is on record
that the United States is supplying arms to Saudi Arabia and even to Israel who
have been accused of several human rights abuses. So why is the case of Nigeria
different? Nigerian soldiers have complained that Boko Haram are having
superior fire power, which is making the war difficult for them. One would have
thought that the United States would rally round the Nigerian government to
help them eradicate this menace. But alas no! They have other ideas.
The refusal of the U.S to sell arms to Nigeria has forced
Nigeria to attempt to procure arms from South Africa. This effort was also
frustrated by a tipoff, probably from the United States, thus leaving Nigeria
in Limbo.
Explaining away U.S. refusal to sell arms to Nigeria or allow
them to buy from other countries, the American Ambassador to Nigeria, James
Entwistle, said: “Before we share equipment with any country, whether it is a
government to government grant or a commercial sale that requires government
approval, we look at a couple of things.
“Does it make sense in terms of that country’s needs?
“The
second thing we look at is the human rights situation in that country. And as
we look at equipment transfers, we look at the situation in those countries in
the past few years. And as you all know, there have been instances (I’m not
saying across the board) of human rights abuses by the Nigerian military in the
North-East.
“So
the kind of question that we have to ask is let’s say we give certain kinds of
equipment to Nigerian military that is then used in a way that affects human
situation. If I approve that, I’m responsible for that. We take that
responsibility very seriously.”
So did the United States check this ‘Situations on ground’
before they supplied arms to Islamic militias in Libya and Syria?
The
United States ambassador however added that the United States is willing to
supply warships to the Nigerian navy [to guard the coastal areas of Biafra],
but not arms to fight Boko Haram. “Some
of the newest vessels in your navy came from the United States. So the idea
that the United States does not share equipment with Nigeria across the board
is untrue,” he said.
What does this tell us?
So if the United States denies Nigeria arms to fight Boko Haram
due to human rights abuses, why would it be willing to supply warships to the
same military accused of abuses? Does it imply United States wants Biafrans
crushed and Boko Haram standing?
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