After a four-day official visit in the United States of America, President Muhammadu Buhari will be returning to Nigeria today with no pledge of concrete military assistance against Boko Haram terrorists from his hosts.
The US government told the Nigerian leader that its arms are tied by an American law, the Leahy Act, which prevents it from selling arms to countries with human rights abuse records.
President Buhari, who is returning home displeased, told the US government that the refusal by America to arm Nigerian troops because of “so-called human rights violations” and “unproven allegations,” would only help Boko Haram.
A global human rights watch group, Amnesty International, had recently accused the Nigerian military under former President Goodluck Jonathan of gross human rights abuses in the prosecution of the war on terrorists.
The Nigerian military forces had denied the allegation which President Buhari pledged to investigate.
Buhari “departs with little practical military assistance in his battle against the Islamist militants who have turned the northeast of his country into a bloody war zone,” the Associated Press (AP) reported on Wednesday.
The US government has vowed to help Nigeria defeat the insurgency but it is prohibited under law from sending weapons to countries that fail to tackle human rights abuses.
“Regretably, the blanket application of the Leahy Law by the United States on the grounds of unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against our forces has denied us access to appropriate strategic weapons to prosecute the war,” Buhari said.
Addressing an audience of policy-makers, activists and academics in Washington, Buhari complained that Nigerian forces had been left “largely impotent” in the face of Boko Haram’s campaign of kidnapping and bombings.
“They do not possess the appropriate weapons and technology which we could have had if the so-called human rights violations had not been an obstacle,” he said.
“Unwittingly, and I dare say unintentionally, the application of the Leahy Law Amendment by the United States government has aided and abetted the Boko Haram terrorists.”
He appealed to both the White House and the US Congress to find a way around the law — introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy in 1997 — and to supply Nigerian troops with high-tech weapons under a deal “with minimal strings.”
Since 2009, Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist breakaway state in a conflict that has seen 15,000 people killed and 1.5 million displaced.
The group’s brutality and in particular the mass kidnapping and enslavement of schoolgirls has shocked world opinion.
In June, rights watchdog Amnesty International said there was sufficient evidence to launch an investigation into senior Nigerian officers for war crimes.
In a 133-page report, the group blamed the army for the extrajudicial execution of 1,200 people and the torture or arbitrary detention of thousands more.
Buhari insists that the charges are not proven, but he has replaced his senior military commanders and has promised to investigate the allegations.
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Posted: at 23-07-2015 08:45 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
raybenzino at 23-07-2015 08:59 AM (9 years ago) (m)
too bad
Posted: at 23-07-2015 08:59 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
nametalkam at 23-07-2015 09:02 AM (9 years ago) (m)
Clearly, the world is coming to an end, US won't support Nigeria except we allow women to screw women and men to screw men, well then to hell with US and their assistance after all no man be God
I specialize in investigative reportage across several subject matter and sectors but mainly focus on metro events and investigation. Do leave your thoughts and opinion on my reports to let me know what you think about them. Thank you
Posted: at 23-07-2015 09:02 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
If this is true doesn't make sense, why must the life of gay people matter dan the ones that I've been killed it doesn't make sense, it doesn't make sense, if the gay people really want to show that they have human feelings they should come out and speak against this
Posted: at 23-07-2015 09:13 AM (9 years ago) | Newbie
Mobbysmartins at 23-07-2015 09:43 AM (9 years ago) (m)
I knew it will come to this.Who are these Amnesty International?,they must be an agent and instrument of the devil run by gays.When the boko haram bombs and kill people,the stupid Amnesty International will not talk,but when the Nigerian Army catches on boko haram the stupid and demonic Amnesty International will start making noise all over the place.People should take a good look at this Amnesty International and discover who they really are.......an organization of gay people doing the work of their father the devil,that is what they are.
Posted: at 23-07-2015 09:43 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Guess GEJ is to be applauded for his efforts against BH. Am beginning to question the purpose of the 4 day visit to America. Just a waste of time and money
Posted: at 23-07-2015 09:46 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
OBAMA MUST BE CRAZY IN THE ASS, HE IS A KENYAN MAN, HE IS GOING TO KENYA TOMORROW, WHEN HE GETS THERE, LET HIM TELL HIS PEOPLE TO TURN TO GAYS. FOOLISH MAN. HE IS A SATANIC CREATURE
Posted: at 23-07-2015 10:19 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
GO TO HELL WITH YOUR WEAPONS, AFTER ALL THEY ARE USED FOR MASS DESTRUCTION. WE SHALL FIGHT BOKO HARAM WITH PRAYERS AND FAITH IN GOD. PURE AND SIMPLE. YOU CALL YOUR COUNTRY GOD'S OWN COUNTRY STILL YOU LIVE IN INEQUITY AND IMMORALITY. SHAMELESS PEOPLE.
Posted: at 23-07-2015 10:44 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
royalty2008 at 23-07-2015 10:59 AM (9 years ago) (m)
Buhari don't have sense, he thinks he know all When Goodluck was there, he was saying all sort of things against Goodluck. Why not go to Russia and buy weapons?
Posted: at 23-07-2015 10:59 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
SweetDaddy1 at 23-07-2015 11:07 AM (9 years ago) (m)
USA isn't the only Country who sells military weapons, CHINA and RUSSIA has active, modern weapons. Nigeria can get whatever weapons needed from friendly Countries like China, France or Russia.
Posted: at 23-07-2015 11:07 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
PoliticxGuru at 23-07-2015 11:13 AM (9 years ago) (m)
it was predicted years bfore now that United States will b defeated by a very small Nation, it is gradually coming to pass, God is keeping his distance frm them, they used to call them God's own country buh not anymore, that country will b destroyed just like Sodom and gomora, I pity them, wat a wasted generation
Posted: at 23-07-2015 11:13 AM (9 years ago) | Hero
I concur US know something about the Bokoharam ...... So if we don't support gay law there is nothing like military support ..... This country need to be self independent like IRAN ( in millitary weapons) , To hell with there leathy law or whatsoever
Arrant Nonsense !
Posted: at 23-07-2015 11:57 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Dat visit was waste of resources. I kn dat. They went for sight seeing nothg else. He has fulfil his fantasy of long to be in america. Grandpa go to Russia and get good weapon to kill ur boys boko haram if truelly u want dat change.
Posted: at 23-07-2015 12:40 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero