The immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (retd), has given a hint that some arms and ammunition procured by the Jonathan administration had not arrived the country. The former NSA, who was quoted as having made the comment in an interview with PR Nigeria, an Abuja based Media Consultancy outfit for the Nigerian military and security agencies, said that some elements whose identities he did not disclose were frustrating the nation’s efforts to get the critically needed equipment to fight the Boko Haram insurgency.
“It was unfortunate that some elements are frustrating the efforts. We even had to query some suppliers for the delay in the delivery of arms and ammunitions,” Dasuki was quoted as saying.
Dasuki said that the previous administration acquired a lot of highly sophisticated equipment to fight and reclaim 22 local government areas from the insurgents after years of frustration by Western countries. It was stated that the items procured included “Alpha jets, Armoured Personnel Carriers, MRAP vehicles, advanced artillery pieces, assorted arms and ammunition, highly sophisticated surveillance drones, T72 and carried out modification of F7 supersonic jet fighters.”
The items also include armoured tanks with comprehensive NBC protection system, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles with capacity to withstand explosions, Improvised Explosive Devices and assorted armoured personnel carriers with effective protective system against small arms fire and shrapnel.
He said that the equipment were effectively utilised to recover 22 local government areas then under Boko Haram control and prevent the Boko Haram from disrupting the 2015 general election. Dasuki was also quoted as having said that the security forces were able to use the equipment to prevent the leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, from releasing videos of threats against the country.
“We are glad that we also provided assorted Armoured Personnel Carriers to transport troops to the battlefield. They were armed for self defence and to provide protection from attacks from shrapnel and small arms fire. “All these were acquired in the last one year after years of frustration by Western powers who denied us of the equipment and sabotaged our efforts to acquire same from other sources which are reasons for some delay in delivery,” he added.