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NIGERIA’S ambassador to Washington Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye has blamed US government refusal to sell “lethal weapons” to fight his country’s jihadist uprising for the armed forces’ failure to defeat Boko Haram terrorists.
Mr Adefuye told members of the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations on Monday night that the US is letting down an old ally in its hour of need.
“The US government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time,” he complained.
“We find it difficult to understand how and why, in spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly.”
Nigeria’s military announced an immediate ceasefire on October 17 but Boko Haram responded by stepping up attacks.
Mr Adefuye confirmed that Washington refuses Nigeria’s requests because of allegations that defence forces have violated the human rights of Boko Haram suspects.
