Foreign private security personnel from
South Africa, Russia and South Korea are
on ground in North East Nigeria to train
Nigerian troops and are not engaged in
frontline combat against Boko Haram.
According to security and diplomatic
sources, Nigeria has brought in hundreds
of mercenaries to give its offensive
against the militant group a shot in the
arm ahead of the March 28 presidential
elections.
Director General National Orientation
Agency, Mike Omeri confirmed that the
foreign security personnel on the ground
were only engaged in training Nigerian
troops.
“There are trainers on the ground to
assist in the handling of equipment,”
Omeri told Reuters on the sidelines of a
news conference in London. “They
simulate, they teach. These are the
things they do.”
Omeri declined on how many foreigners
were involved but said they had come
from the same countries that had
provided military equipment, citing South
Africa, Russia and South Korea.
“Acquisition of recruitment and military
hardware is done through a number of
processes. There are government-to-
government exchanges and there are
those who also come through
contractors,” he said.
“The contractors’ stay in Nigeria would
end when local troops had become
proficient at handling the equipment,” he
added.
“This is training on site and maybe this is
why the people on the ground have been
described as mercenaries.”
He declined to predict how long it would
take for the military to regain full control.
“We have started the final onslaught.
Leadership
South Africa, Russia and South Korea are
on ground in North East Nigeria to train
Nigerian troops and are not engaged in
frontline combat against Boko Haram.
According to security and diplomatic
sources, Nigeria has brought in hundreds
of mercenaries to give its offensive
against the militant group a shot in the
arm ahead of the March 28 presidential
elections.
Director General National Orientation
Agency, Mike Omeri confirmed that the
foreign security personnel on the ground
were only engaged in training Nigerian
troops.
“There are trainers on the ground to
assist in the handling of equipment,”
Omeri told Reuters on the sidelines of a
news conference in London. “They
simulate, they teach. These are the
things they do.”
Omeri declined on how many foreigners
were involved but said they had come
from the same countries that had
provided military equipment, citing South
Africa, Russia and South Korea.
“Acquisition of recruitment and military
hardware is done through a number of
processes. There are government-to-
government exchanges and there are
those who also come through
contractors,” he said.
“The contractors’ stay in Nigeria would
end when local troops had become
proficient at handling the equipment,” he
added.
“This is training on site and maybe this is
why the people on the ground have been
described as mercenaries.”
He declined to predict how long it would
take for the military to regain full control.
“We have started the final onslaught.
Leadership
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