- U.S. assures on delivery of remaining 6 Super Tucano fighter jets next month
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), on Thursday denied any of the alleged human rights’ violations levelled against the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the on-going Counter Terrorism operations against Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the country’s Northeast region.
General Magashi told the United States Acting Ambassador to Nigeria, Kathleen Fitz Gibbon, at the Ship House Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Abuja that the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is a stickler to the domestic and International laws that forbid abuse of human rights.
He said Nigerian troops are guided in their operations by the extant laws of the land as enshrined in the Constitution and rules of engagements as well as Acts and other laws that forbids any form of abuse.
While being emphatic that the Nigerian military will not renege on her avowed compliance to the rule of law and “commitment to defending the national interest no matter whose ox is gored,” the Minister asked rhetorically, “what else should Nigeria do to protect human rights and Child Protection Act that the country is not doing presently?”
The Defene Minister however thanked the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the US Office of the Defence Cooperation for the delivery of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Super Tucano aircraft and the training of NAF pilots and engineers.
Speaking, the U.S. Acting Ambassador to Nigeria, Kathleen Fitz Gibbon, pledged continued support to Nigeria, adding that the remaining six Super Tucano fighter jets will arrive the country by next month September.
Gibbon appreciated the progress Nigeria has made in fighting insurgency and the nation’s compliance with Protocols.
She appreciated the Minister for the audience and the agreed plan to reconvene another meeting soonest to consider various documents before the Ministry of Defence touching on the way forward for the promotions of Human Rights and Child Protection Act among other areas of common concerns to the two Countries.