US is Ready to Help Nigeria Fight Boko Haram



05/29/2015 3:46 PM


According to Reuters, the possibility of supporting the country in the sphere of cooperation of the intelligence services, logistics, military justice is being considered.



The United States can send to Nigeria military trainers to assist in the fight against militants of the radical group Boko Haram, which has an armed confrontation with the government in the north-east African country – reports Reuters.

According to the agency, there is the possibility of support Nigeria in the area of ​​cooperation of the intelligence services, logistics, military justice. In times of Muhammadu Buhari’s precursor, former President Goodluck Jonathan, cooperation between Washington and Abuja security developed slowly due to the fact that the Americans have criticized the Nigerian government for human rights violations and the unwillingness to fight corruption.

The radical group Boko Haram seeks to create a north-eastern Nigeria an Islamic caliphate and introduce the Shariah (Islamic law).

Since the beginning of this year, Nigeria's government troops, supported by troops from Chad and Niger, carried out a large-scale operation to eliminate the bases of extremists. As a result, the combat power of the Boko Haram, according to military experts, has been largely undermined. However, despite this, the group continues to resist, in particular, to the northeast of Nigeria and the islands located on Lake Chad.
The new president of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari, who has officially become the head of state on Friday in the capital Abuja, has promised to continue the fight against the militants.

In his inaugural speech, he called Boko Haram a group consisting of "madmen and atheists moved away from Islam as much as you can imagine."

Bukhari said that in Maiduguri (city in northeastern Nigeria, the administrative center of the federal state of Borno), a new military command center operation against radicals to be place. "You cannot win by having the command center in Abuja," - the president said, adding that the state will do everything for the liberation of more than 200 girls abducted by extremists in April 2014 in Chibok.

The president also acknowledged that the Nigerian economy is in a very difficult position and need careful management to overcome the crisis caused by low oil prices, as well as solving problems of slow growth and high unemployment.

Muhammadu Buhari is a professional military man, retired Major General, experienced politician. After the military coup of December 31, 1983, overthrew President Shehu Shagari, he became the state’s head. August 27, 1985 he was overthrown in a coup, carried out by Ibrahim Babangida.

After the fall of the military dictatorship and the restoration of the 1999 democratic regime, Bukhari returned to politics and began to position itself as a ‘convert Democrat’ for the recovery of confidence in the power of the citizens of Nigeria.

Bukhari ran for president of Nigeria three times (in 2003, 2007, 2011), but each time he held second place behind the candidates of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Finally, the fourth attempt was successful. During March elections, he scored more than 53% of the vote and confidently defeated acting at that time the head of state Goodluck Jonathan.

source: reuters.com


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