US BOOTS ON NIGERIAN GROUND
Nigeria’s security authorities should make good use of the opportunity
The Defence Headquarters has since confirmed the arrival of about 200 troops from the United States military on Nigerian soil. The statement also defined the purpose and roles of the American soldiers in their mission to our country. These troops are not a fighting contingent, nor will they be directly engaged in active internal security operations. Their role is primarily to provide training, intelligence and backup technological input for members of the Nigerian armed forces that are engaged in counter terrorism operations.
The specific backdrop to the arrival of the US soldiers is the continuing menace of Jihadist-oriented terrorism, especially in some northern states. And these soldiers have so far been deployed only to formations in Borno and Bauchi States as an extension of a long-standing US engagement in the global efforts to curb and ultimately eradicate the menace of Jihadist terrorism and insurgency in the Sahelian region. As the military authorities have explained, the American troops are here basically for capacity building, in terms of surveillance and intelligence as well as in air operations either in the deployment of drones or aircraft.
While we understand the concerns of those who are bothered by the presence of the US troops in the country, they miss the point when they cite the rejection of the 1963 Anglo-Nigerian pact as a justification for opposing this deal. Not only are the issues not the same, but the times are also different. Rehashing some nationalistic arguments to thwart the current military collaboration is also unhelpful given the international dimension to the security challenge confronting our country. Besides, there is nothing new in this collaboration. Since 1999, our armed forces have enjoyed support from the British, Germans, French and even the Americans. The American soldiers on our soil are therefore not going to deploy fighting troops. Neither are they in Nigeria to establish a base.
The 2011 killing of Muammar Ghadaffi which led to the collapse of his regime and Libya as a country instigated proliferation of weapons that ultimately created opportunities for violent religious extremists to thrive, especially in the Sahel. That was how Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were able to get a foothold in the northeastern part of the country. Now, some of their affiliates are in the North central states of Niger and Kwara with all its implications for the entire country. Under such situation, it is expedient for the Nigerian authorities to seek help, especially in a fight against a terror network that operates across borders.
With the southward drift of ISIS after being routed from parts of the Middle East and Europe, the escalation of terrorist violence in Nigeria has already led to large scale killings of citizens of all faiths. The most recent was in Kwara State where residents of some Muslim communities were gruesomely massacred for refusing the strange doctrine of the insurgents. The US and Nigerian governments have shared concerns about these killings. After a series of healthy exchanges between both countries, a template of military and strategic cooperation was agreed.
The recent deployment of the US troops to Nigeria must therefore be understood as an outcome of this strategic cooperation. But the challenge before Nigeria’s defence and security authorities is to maximise the benefits of this cooperation. Our armed forces must improve their capabilities in the areas of intelligence, logistics, use of technology, and general operational efficiency as benefits of this strategic alliance.
However, while we support whatever initiatives that will restore security of lives and property in the country, we must not play politics with genuine efforts to solve the embarrassing and lingering insecurity. This is especially important for the current administration and those in opposition as we inch towards a consequential general election in 2027. The security of the nation and citizens must be placed above political and sectarian considerations. Clearly then, the perception of the presence of US soldiers on our soil must rise above faith, clan, region and partisanship.
