The United States of America has given the Nigerian Army 24 Mine-Resistant Armoured Protected vehicles valued at $11 million and promised to work closely with the Nigeria to finally defeat the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.
The US Defence Attache to Nigeria, Colonel Patrick Doyle, said his country will continue to work with partners in the West African region to identify new opportunities to restore order in the Lake Chad Basin region.
Colonel Doyle made the statement while handing over 24 Mine-Resistant Armoured Protected vehicles valued at $11 million to Nigerian military authorities in Lagos
Colonel Doyle said that the vehicles were donated through the Excess Defence Articles Programme, adding another eight valued at $7.4 million are still being expected from United States.
He said that United States’ commitment towards defeating Boko Haram is second to none, adding that the donation of equipment represents part of the continuing US commitment to Nigeria and its neighbours to counter the senseless act of terror by the insurgents and to promote regional security.
Apart from the donation, the US Defence Attache said that his country provides advisors, intelligence, training, logistics support and equipment to its African partners working to defeat Boko Haram.
Earlier, the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan Ali (Rtd), assured that the equipment donated to the Nigerian Armed Force would help defeat the insurgents.
General Dan Ali, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP) at the Defence Headquarters , Major General Barry Ndiomu, said the Mine Resistant Vehicles would help protect the troops from Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) and make the military incur fewer casualties.
While receiving the vehicles from the US government representatives, General Ndiomu called on the US to assist Nigeria in ensuring that spare parts for the vehicles are available to enable the military to maintain the specialized vehicles.
The Mine-Resistant Vehicles are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes. Armoured vehicles designed specifically to counter the land mine threat were first used during the Rhodesian Bush War; the technology subsequently matured with the development of the South African-designed Casspir armoured fighting vehicle, which inspired the United States MRAP programme and was the basis for some of the programme’s vehicles.
The donation of the vehicles, the United State said, was part of its continued support to the government and the people of Nigeria to help defeat Boko Haram.
