Connect with us

Metro

BOKO HARAM: US army trains Nigerian troops

Published

on

Personnel of the United States army have trained Nigerian troops on a six-week advice-and-assist mission in Jaji, Kaduna State, the Pentagon has said.

The US department of defence said Nigerian army’s 26th infantry battalion might be the next to deploy to North-East to confront Boko Haram.

The department said it was important to prepare the Nigerian troops for the threats they faced from the terrorists.

It documented some accounts of the US soldiers during the training,

Saul Rodriguez, the most experienced of the 12 US soldiers, said: “Even in triple-digit heat and with AK-47 automatic rifles in hand, it’s easy to forget these soldiers are likely headed into imminent danger.

“My job is to train you as much as I can. Your job is to fight the bad guys out of your country.”

Kevin Martin of the 10th mountain division Fort Drum, New York, said the troops needed the skills as they faced real threats.

He said, “Yes. We are hard on them. We have to be. Their life depends on it. They might need these skills one day.

Read also: ZAMFARA: Fresh attack claims several lives

“They face a very real and lethal threat. We aren’t going to slow down; we are going to pack as much training in as possible.”

Stephen Gouthro said the life-altering responsibility to prepare Nigerian soldiers was not lost on him, adding one of the best parts of the mission was the lack of micromanagement.

Gouthro said, “What better way to demonstrate mission command. This mission isn’t only about the tactical.

“Everything our team does could have diplomatic effects. Out here, the team has to be professional, mature and disciplined. And we are.”

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now