U.S. Considers Lifting Arms Ban On Nigeria

The United States is considering lifting restrictions on sales of arms
to Nigeria, officials of the U.S. Congress have said.

A delegation from the U.S. Congress told military authorities in
Abuja, Nigeria's capital on Monday, that the decision was part of
efforts by the U.S. to enhance cooperation between both countries in
tackling the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria's north-east.

The delegation, which was led by Issah Darrel, who is also part of the
Judicial Committee of the U.S. Congress, met with the Chiefs of Army,
Naval, Defence and Air Staff in a closed door meeting.

The Leahy Law

The U.S. Congress deligation's visit is coming almost two weeks after
President Muhammadu Buhari's visited the U.S. and had talks with
President Barack Obama on the war on terror ongoing in north-eastern
Nigeria, economic development and other issues of interest to both
countries.

Addressing a gathering at the United States Institute of Peace during
his visit, President Buhari stressed the need for the U.S. Congress to
examine how the U.S. Government could provide Nigeria with far more
substantial counter-terrorism assistance with minimal strings.

At that meeting, President Buhari said: "Regrettably, the blanket
application of the Leahy law by the United States on the grounds of
unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against our
forces has denied us access to appropriate strategic weapons to
prosecute the war against the insurgents. In the face of abduction of
innocent school girls from their hostels, indiscriminate bombings of
civilians in markets and places of worship, our forces have remained
largely impotent because they do not possess the appropriate weapons
and technology which they could have had, had the so called human
rights violations not been an obstacle.

"Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the application of the
Leahy law amendment by the U. S. Government has aided and abated the
Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist
ideology and hate, the indiscriminate killings and maiming of
civilians, in raping of women and girls, and in their other heinous
crimes. I believe this is not the spirit of the Leahy Laws. I know the
American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes.

"I therefore strongly appeal to both the Executive Arm and the U.S.
Congress to examine how the U.S. Government can provide us with far
more substantial counter-terrorism assistance with minimal strings.
The longer we delay, the deadlier the Boko Haram gets. At all events,
we have re-written the rules of engagement protecting the rights of
combatants and in particular safeguarding civilians in theatres of
conflict".

The Nigerian military had maintained that it had put into
consideration the rights of citizens in its counter-terrorism
operations, stressing that it would continue to uphold that
commitment.

The restrictions on sales of arms by the U.S. to Nigeria is embedded
in the Leahy law which prohibited the U.S. Department of State and
Department of Defence from providing military assistance to foreign
countries that violate human rights with impunity.