We don’t need South African mercenaries to defeat Boko Haram, DHQ says

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said there is no truth in reports making the rounds that it was making plans to engage the services of South African mercenaries in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

This was stated by the acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, in a statement, adding that the Nigerian military has enough ability to confront the insurgents.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian government under former President Goodluck Jonathan had secured the services of the mercenaries, leading to huge success against the insurgents in weeks leading to the 2015 general elections.

During this time, many seized territories were recovered from the insurgents.

According to Rabe, the report on the mercenaries was not just false but disturbing, adding that it does not make sense to engage mercenaries after winning the war against Boko Haram.

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The statement reads in part: “The Defence Headquarters read with dismay the disturbing report on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 edition of a newspaper claiming that foreign mercenaries would be used to fight the Boko Haram sect. This story is not only mischievous and unfounded but also lacks merit and is far from the truth.

“The DHQ wishes to state, with emphasis, that the Nigerian Armed Forces have the capacity and capability to clear the remnants of the terrorists from our land and that is what the military has been doing. It is not necessary or logical to go for mercenaries after the battle against Boko Haram insurgents had been won.

“The pocket of attacks witnessed in the last few days by the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists is isolated, though regrettable. That does not call for serious concerns as it is not uncommon worldwide for such occurrence in any area that was once infested by insurgency.”

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