No law prevents US from equipping Nigerian military – Congress*

The United States of America has said it will work with Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram, saying it was determined to find the insurgents and deal withthem wherever they may be.

 
A United States Congressional delegation currently touring Nigeria, assuredthat President Barrack Obama would work with the Federal Government todefeat the insurgents.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, leader of thedelegation, DarellIssa dismissed reports that the Leahy Amendmentprevented the US from supplying arms to the Nigerian military.

 
The lawmaker stated that nothing under the American law stopped his countryfrom providing technical support to Nigeria, stressing that the USgovernment would provide the necessary technical support and training themilitary needed to defeat Boko Haram.
“I want to make one thing extremely clear; there have been reports aboutthe candid discussions about the Leahy Amendment; nothing under current USlaws prevents full cooperation and technical support, training for theNigerian military and for all the departments of government. Those are onand will continue.
“Nothing in the law prevents USAID from its full engagement throughoutNigeria and nothing in the document will stop the United States fromproviding any and all assistance to the military.
“The changes that the president (Buhari) has promised, that the jointchiefs agreed to work on are changes that we embrace, that we would workwith the government.”

 
Another member of the delegation, Sheila Lee urged Nigerians to uniteagainst Boko Haram, regardless of geopolitical and ethno-religiousaffiliations.
“Boko Haram, we will find you wherever you are and we ask that yourecognise the human dignity of all people. Bring back those girls; releasethe people and respond to the generosity of those who will bring you torehabilitation and training and to come into civil society and be theheroic Nigerians that you can be. Bring the girls back or we will come andfind you wherever you are.”
Other members of the delegation are Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat-Texas)Randolph Blake Farenthold (Republican-Texas) and Frederica Wilson(Democrat- Florida)
Lee Wilson, said the revived relationship between Nigeria and the US is anew opportunity to stop Boko Haram which “is ruining the reputation of theentire Nigeria,” adding that the US Congress is solidly behind efforts toend terrorism in Nigeria.
“The institutional support that would come has everything to do with theconfidence that the people of Nigeria should know that terrorists should bekilled in the battle field but should be dealt with humanly whenapprehended. I want to make it extremely clear, we came here to hear fromthe government and we heard what we wanted to hear loudly and clearly thatthey have a commitment for human rights support, they have a commitment toend the corruption that has robbed so much from the people of Nigeria andthat in fact, democratic government is secure here in Nigeria.”