The United Kingdom has provided the Nigerian Army with highly technical, non-lethal military equipment worth £450,000 to support the fight against Boko Haram and other religious extremist groups in Northern Nigeria.
The UK said the support will cement the partnership between the British military and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The British High Commission, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, said that the donation aims to boost Nigeria’s efforts in combating violent extremist organizations in the northeastern region of the country.
It further revealed that the equipment donation is part of a broader initiative that includes a substantial package of training courses offered by the British military.
Currently, a team of 20 personnel from the British Army is stationed in Maiduguri, Borno State, where they are conducting a course designed to enhance essential skills for ongoing operations against violent extremist organizations in the Northeast.
The equipment was officially received by the Joint Task Force North-East (JTF NE) Theatre Commander, Major General Wahidi Shaibu, during a handover ceremony in Maiduguri.
At the ceremony, Colonel Martin Leach, Deputy Head of British Defence Staff (West Africa) and Commander of British Military Training Teams in Nigeria expressed his satisfaction with the partnership.
“I am delighted to be here today to hand over this equipment and mark another milestone in the strong relationship between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. The UK remains committed to supporting Nigeria in its ongoing fight against violent extremist organizations in the North-East.”
Additionally, he revealed that seven more training courses are scheduled to take place between now and February 2025, aimed at equipping Nigerian Army personnel with the specialized skills necessary for future operations in the region.
The UK also has personnel temporarily assigned to the Theatre Counter-IED Coordination Cell in Maiduguri, collaborating with Nigerian counterparts to enhance intelligence on terrorist networks responsible for attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which threaten both civilian and military lives.
