Nigeria Tells US To Halt Training Of Battalion

The federal government has requested that the United States suspend the training of a Nigerian Army battalion.

Prior to the request, the American experts groomed the soldiers on how to effectively tackle the security challenge facing the country.

According to the US embassy in Nigeria, the federal government cited no specific reason for terminating the programme at its final phase, as two phases had taken place between April and August 2014.

Nigeria had solicited international assistance as a result of the unprecedented level of the insurgency, particularly during the period when 276 female students were abducted in Chibok, Borno state.

The US was one of the countries that indicated interest in assisting the country.

However, things took a downward turn when America refused to sell arms to Nigeria, forcing the country to resort to a deal with South Africa that ended up an embarrassment.

About US$15 million was confiscated from Nigeria by the South African authorities in two separate incidents but the money was later released.

In a statement issued by the US embassy in Abuja on Monday, the country expressed regret that the training was cancelled, saying it would have been a boost in the battle against insurgency.

“At the request of the Nigerian government, the United States will discontinue its training of a Nigerian Army battalion,” it said.

“Based on mutual assessment of the Nigerian Army and US trainers, a third iteration of training was agreed upon with the intent of developing the battalion into a unit with advanced infantry skills.

“The US government will continue other aspects of the extensive bilateral security relationship as well as all other assistance programme.”