Nigerian military denies hiring mercenaries to fight terrorists

monjola sotubo

October 23, 2015 4:41 PM

This was disclosed on Thursday, October 22, 2015, by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Colonel Rabe Abubakar.

The Nigerian military has denied reports that it has employed the services of mercenaries to join its fight against Boko Haram.

This was disclosed on Thursday, October 22, 2015, by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Colonel Rabe Abubakar.

Abubakar made the clarification in response to media reports claiming that the Nigerians government had hired foreigners to join its troops in a bid to meet the December deadline of crushing the sect.

“The issue about mercenaries lacks substance; I want you to note that for the past months, the military has been fighting this war more and more effectively and all Nigerians, irrespective of where they live, have come to understand that we are making tremendous progress,” Abubakar said.

“So, why should some people bring up this idea of bringing in mercenaries? Which mercenaries, from where and to do what? You see, all this is part of the usual antics of blackmail by the enemies of Nigeria – those who do not want the progress that the Nigerian military are making and those who are not happy with the successes we are recording.

“They are trying to derail by inciting Nigerians against the Nigerian armed forces. There is no nation in the world where such thing (hiring mercenaries while winning a battle) happens. We are doing our best and achieving effective results; we don’t need to say it because Nigerians see it and appreciate what we are doing. We will continue to use our soldiers, our officers and all our domestic resources.

“The Nigerian armed forces is doing its best to ensure that we surmount the Boko Haram issue and other allied criminalities; so, such disinformation or blackmail will not deter us from doing what we are supposed to be doing. It is not just a lie; it is completely unfounded and baseless,” he added.

The previous administration, run by Goodluck Jonathan, had resorted to the use of mercenaries during its latter days in a bid to intensify the fight against the sect.

The use of mercenaries by Jonathan had however been condemned by current President, Muhammadu Buhari before he assumed office.

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