A former US ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, has revealed the reason the United States Government will not support Nigeria in its war against terrorism and banditry.
Speaking on Friday at the maiden edition of Grow Nigeria Conversation in Abuja, Campbell said the US govt will only offer technical and financial support to Nigeria until the government addresses alleged human rights abuses by the military and other security agencies.
He asked the Muhammadu Buhari led-government to do its best to restore public confidence in the security forces, especially the police.
Campbell, however, said US laws strictly prohibit the American government from providing technical expertise to security forces accused of human rights violations.
According to him, the allegations pose “a huge barrier to a more cordial relationship between the US and the Nigerian security forces”.
“The Nigerian government has to do its best to restore public confidence in the security forces, especially the police.
“There could be financial support to help build up the security forces; there could also be a transfer of technologies.
“If human rights abuses were to go away, the possibility of a deeper relationship is possible,” Campbell said.
Meanwhile, the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has revealed that gunmen overpowered the Imo State Police Command men because they “came with all the arsenals at their disposal” and “in large numbers”.
Naija News reports that this was made known by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi, on Friday while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.
Gunmen on Monday attacked the Owerri Correctional Centre and freed over 1,800 inmates. The attackers also razed the Imo State Police Command headquarters in Owerri and burnt all the vehicles parked at the command headquarters.
Speaking further, the police affairs minister confirmed that the DSS alerted the police before the Monday attacks in Imo.
He said the police fought well but the gunmen overpowered the police because they “came prepared”.
