By Ola Samuel
The United States of America, USA has warned the federal government to provide leadership in the fight against terrorism failure which the deadly Alqaeda will take over some northern states.
Dagvin Anderson, commander of the US special operations command, Africa, said “no nation can come in and fix that problem for Nigeria. We can assist with that – and it’s the United States can assist, the United Kingdom, other countries can come in, many countries can come and assist with that partnership – but ultimately it takes leadership from Nigeria in order for us to focus our efforts.”
The Source learnt that the US’ Commander’s comment has unsettled the military and the presidency, particularly now that the administration has faced backlash at home over the worsening insecurity in the country.
Sources in Aso Rock say the administration is very careful not to upset the Donald Trump administration which has supported the federal government’s fight against terror, unlike his predecessor, Barack Obama which turned his back on the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
The US warning also came on the crest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s call to security agencies in the country to route criminal groups across the country, particularly in the north east and north west where Boko Haram have stepped up attacks.
Anderson stated that the Nigerian military must take the battle to the terrorists as the US is prepared to partner with Nigeria in the sharing intelligence.
General Ishola Adeniyi, a former commander, Operation Lafiya Dole had blamed Intelligence failure for setbacks recorded by the Nigerian forces against Boko Haram.
He was later redeployed and now facing court martial.
The US said “ intelligence sharing is absolutely vital and we stay fully engaged with the government of Nigeria to provide them an understanding of what these terrorists are doing, what Boko Haram is doing, what ISIS-West Africa is doing, and how ISIS and al-Qaida are looking to expand further south into the littoral areas.”
Anderson said the US and other allies are not happy that Nigeria has failed to route the terrorists. The federal government must do more to convince her allies and take the front seat in the fight against terrorism, he said.
According to him “We as a community of international nations, keep thinking we have defeated them or we have put them on their back foot and that they’re just moments from disintegration.”
“I think there’s two factors in that. One, it goes to that each government has to focus on this and provide that focus for international partners to engage with,” the US general said.
“The other part of this is we can’t underestimate the threat these violent extremist organisations pose. We, as a community of international nations, keep thinking we have defeated them or we have put them on their back foot and that they’re just moments from disintegration.
“I think after 20 years we have seen they are very resilient organisations that, although small, they’re able to leverage social media and other forms of media to have an outsized voice and that they continue to recruit and they continue to find opportunities.”
“When it comes to Nigeria in general, Nigeria, obviously, is a critical nation to West Africa. It is a critical nation and we realize that Nigeria is a lynchpin.”
”For that to have an effect against the VEOs and to have an effect against these stressors, it really takes the Government of Nigeria to lead that effort and to build that energy to coalesce around.”
Meanwhile, the Federal government, the magazine learnt has been seriously rattled by US criticism and “are already preparing a measured response, to counter US position on our military,” a diplomatic source said on Thursday.
