Boko Haram: US reacts to Jonathan’s accusation, denies abandoning Nigeria

The Pentagon, the United States of America’s military coordinating body, has denied President Goodluck Jonathan’s assertion that it has abandoned Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.

President Jonathan had in an interview with the Wall Street Journal said the United States had ignored requests by Nigeria for troops to combat the Boko Haram militants.

Jonathan stated that Nigeria had in early 2014 reached out to the US for assistance.

Regretting the attitude of the world power, Jonathan quipped: “Are they (America) not fighting ISIS?

“Why can’t they come to Nigeria? They are our friends.

“If Nigeria has a problem, then I expect the US to come and assist us.”

But the Pentagon Press Secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby, also told the Wall Street Journal that the US was yet to receive an official request for troops from Nigeria.

Kirby said what the US was doing now had been to enter into discussion on how it could participate in the Multi National Joint Task Force with other African nations to assist Nigeria.

Kirby said the task force will be designed to help build up Nigeria’s own counterterrorism capabilities.

He said: “These discussions are really just now starting.

“I can tell you that there are no plans as I speak here, unilaterally, to send or to add US troops into Nigeria.” .

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