The United States government Monday said the Nigerian government has asked it to discontinue the ongoing training of Nigerian troops by US military instructors.
The development highlights the frosty relations between both nations since the US government accused Nigeria of alleged human rights abuses in the war against Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group operating mainly in northern Nigeria.
“At the request of the Nigerian government, the United States will discontinue its training of a Nigerian Army battalion,” the US Embassy in Abuja said in a release.
The first two phases of training were conducted between April and August 2014, and had provided previously untrained civilian personnel with basic soldiering skills.
“Based on mutual assessment of the Nigerian Army and US trainers, a third iteration of training was agreed upon with the intent of developing the battalion into a unit with advanced infantry skills.
“We regret premature termination of this training, as it was to be the first in a larger planned project that would have trained additional units with the goal of helping the Nigerian Army build capacity to counter Boko Haram,” the release said.
The US however said it would continue other aspects of the extensive bilateral security relationship, as well as all other assistance programmes with Nigeria.
Nigeria has accused the US of frustrating its efforts to purchase sophisticated weaponry, especially multi-purpose assault helicopters and jets from manufacturers in the West.
The
United States government Monday said the Nigerian government has asked
it to discontinue the ongoing training of Nigerian troops by US military
instructors.
The development highlights the frosty relations between both nations since the US government accused Nigeria of alleged human rights abuses in the war against Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group operating mainly in northern Nigeria.
“At the request of the Nigerian government, the United States will discontinue its training of a Nigerian Army battalion,” the US Embassy in Abuja said in a release.
The first two phases of training were conducted between April and August 2014, and had provided previously untrained civilian personnel with basic soldiering skills.
“Based on mutual assessment of the Nigerian Army and US trainers, a third iteration of training was agreed upon with the intent of developing the battalion into a unit with advanced infantry skills.
“We regret premature termination of this training, as it was to be the first in a larger planned project that would have trained additional units with the goal of helping the Nigerian Army build capacity to counter Boko Haram,” the release said.
The US however said it would continue other aspects of the extensive bilateral security relationship, as well as all other assistance programmes with Nigeria.
Nigeria has accused the US of frustrating its efforts to purchase sophisticated weaponry, especially multi-purpose assault helicopters and jets from manufacturers in the West.
- See more at: http://abujavoice.com/nigeria-directs-us-to-discontinue-training-for-nigerian-troops/#sthash.TrmjVXIR.dpuf
The development highlights the frosty relations between both nations since the US government accused Nigeria of alleged human rights abuses in the war against Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group operating mainly in northern Nigeria.
“At the request of the Nigerian government, the United States will discontinue its training of a Nigerian Army battalion,” the US Embassy in Abuja said in a release.
The first two phases of training were conducted between April and August 2014, and had provided previously untrained civilian personnel with basic soldiering skills.
“Based on mutual assessment of the Nigerian Army and US trainers, a third iteration of training was agreed upon with the intent of developing the battalion into a unit with advanced infantry skills.
“We regret premature termination of this training, as it was to be the first in a larger planned project that would have trained additional units with the goal of helping the Nigerian Army build capacity to counter Boko Haram,” the release said.
The US however said it would continue other aspects of the extensive bilateral security relationship, as well as all other assistance programmes with Nigeria.
Nigeria has accused the US of frustrating its efforts to purchase sophisticated weaponry, especially multi-purpose assault helicopters and jets from manufacturers in the West.
- See more at: http://abujavoice.com/nigeria-directs-us-to-discontinue-training-for-nigerian-troops/#sthash.TrmjVXIR.dpuf
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