MILITARY chiefs have dismissed calls for them to bring back South African mercenaries to fight Boko Haram claiming that the Nigerian armed forces have the capacity to deal with and eliminate the terrorist threat on their own.
Yesterday, it was reported that several commanders are considering whether to reach out to President Muhammadu Buhari on the urgent need to recall the South African mercenaries recruited by ex-president Goodluck Jonathan to help finish off Boko Haram after it recently attacked an army base. Over the weekend, the remnants of Bioko Haram launched a surprise attack on the 272 Special Task Force Task Battalion's outpost in Mallam Fatori in Borno State.
However, Brigadier Rabe Abubakar, defence headquarters spokesman, said that the Nigerian military had both the capacity and capability to defeat Boko Haram terrorists and so would not engage mercenaries to achieve such feat. He insisted that the military would clear the remnants of the terrorists from the area without seeking any assistance from outside.
Brigadier Abubakar said: “We read with dismay the disturbing newspaper report on Wednesday 9 November claiming that foreign mercenaries would be used to fight Boko Haram. This story is not only mischievous and unfounded but also lacks merit and far from the truth.
"Defence headquarters wishes to state with emphasis that the Nigerian armed forces has the capacity and capability to clear the remnants of the terrorists from our land and that is what the military has been doing. It is not necessary or logical to go for mercenaries after the battle of Boko Haram insurgent had been won.
According to Brigadier Abubakar, the attacks witnessed over the last few days by the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists are isolated cases, though regrettable. He added that it does not call for serious concern as it is not uncommon worldwide for such occurrences in any area that was once infested by terrorist groups.
“Those peddling rumours on the use of mercenaries are mischievous and they have done it before and failed and are at it again. Surely, they will definitely fail this time also.
"The unprecedented successes recorded against the deadly Boko Haram sect by the Nigerian military without seeking external force is there for all to see. Defence headquarters therefore, urges our patriotic citizens to ignore the senseless talk and dismiss the story in its entirety as it was concocted to serve inglorious selfish interest,” Brigadier Abubakar added.
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