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South Africa’s Secret Role In Nigerian Boko Haram Attrocities (Picture)
For two weeks now, stories about the regional alliance between Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin through a Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) aimed at taming Boko Haram have been prominent. The crisis, formerly seen as Nigeria’s domestic affair, has assumed regional importance as other countries have in recent times fallen victim to the terrorists, with attendant threat to their territorial integrity. Then there are fresh reports saying the South African operatives, said to be mercenaries, will lead the way and clear Boko Haram with gunships before the army moves in.
While the MNJTF’s outing has been generally successful, insiders have told Weekly Trust that there are other countries that are playing an active role in the offensive against Boko Haram, albeit from the sidelines, in reference to South Africa. A credible security source revealed that far from the botched arms deal through back channels – coupled with the diplomatic row that trailed it – and the reported engagement of 100 personnel said to be mercenaries to train Nigerian troops to fight the insurgents, the South Africans are involved in specialized training for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
According to the source: “The relationship between Nigeria and South Africa is not as bad as some people think. Yes, there is disagreement, but South Africa is playing a sisterly role because many of their war plane pilots are currently assisting the NAF with technical training on aerial reconnaissance in the North-East.” The source did not, however, confirm if indeed 100 mercenaries are training Nigerian troops.
Corroborating, another security source confided that it is true South African pilots have trained and are still training Nigerian pilots who have so far recorded victories in recent operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states after they carried air raids in Boko Haram hideouts. “Nigeria has recently procured modern military hardware, including fighter jets and armoured vehicles. But some of the equipments are so sophisticated that both our ground troops and the Air Force cannot operate them without substantial training, which will take some time.”
The source added: “This is basically what made the deployment of the South African experts inevitable, in view of the fact that Nigeria was running out of time and there was the urgent need to substantially address the Boko Haram problem. The top military hierarchy and the Federal Government are trying to revamp our image which is at a record low, especially going by unprecedented breakthroughs recorded by troops from neighbouring countries.” MOREHERE
