It has been authoritatively revealed that the Nigerian Army have
hired mercenaries to combat and end Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
This is in a bid to meet up with the presidential directive mandating
the military to end Boko Haram terror by December.
A source, a senior military official confirmed that about 250
personnel were hired from South Africa-base private contractor
specialised tasks, training, equipment and protection (STTEP), and are
being deployed along with fighter jets in Operation Fire Force.
The personnel includes veterans drawn from conventional,
clandestine and coverts units of the pre-1994 South African Defence
Force. They will work with Nigerian Military, teaching and training them
on best counter measure means to combat the Boko Haram group. The
military source said: “The mercenaries have been re-engaged and
their platforms are being deployed. By platforms, I mean fighter jets,
helos (helicopters), coms (communication), surveillance, medics, etc.”
It is believed that foreign help in the fight against Boko Haram is
a better approach towards ending the reign of terror many Nigerians
have experienced in the hands of the insurgents. The mercenaries will
use gorilla tactics to fight and combat the insurgents.
The Jonathan administration made use of mercenaries but many people
believed it was not effective as there was no accountability and
result. Many attributed the failure to corruption and the
i-don't-care-attitude of mlitary heirarchy during the period. It has not
been confirmed officially by an anonymous Nigerian military official
about the use of mercenaries in the fight against Boko Haram.
Commenting on the issue, presidential spokesman Garba Shehu
observed that the previous administration used mercenaries but it was
not effective. In his words, Shehu said: “It is true that the previous administration hired South African mercenaries to fight Boko Haram,” he said.
“They, however, left with the government that brought them. Since
coming into office, this government did not have any engagement with
mercenaries of any kind and there are no plans to do so.”
That was still the same stand of Siphiwe Dlamini, a spokesman for
the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), said his country did
not have any troops in Nigeria but could not say if private mercenaries
were operating there.
“I wish to reiterate there are no SANDF personnel in Nigeria fighting Boko Haram,” he told Anadolu Agency.
“If there are South Africans who are there as you allege, they are not
our members but private citizens. I cannot comment on what private
citizens are doing in any part of the world.”
It is yet to be seen how the Nigerian army hopes to end Boko Haram
insurgency by December as many people have seen that as a tall order
from the president.
Many are expressing optimism that if the military puts more effort
and are provided all they need in the fight against Boko Haram, they
will meet the deadline.