United States Senator, Patrick Leahy, (D-Vermont) took a swipe at
\nPresident Muhammadu Buhari’s comments accusing the U.S of aiding Boko
\nHaram using the Leahy Law, saying the Nigeria’s President must face his
\nresponsibilities of effectively countering the Boko Haram extremists.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the U.S. Institute for Peace in Washington recently, Buhari
\nsuggested the denial of weapons sales was helping Boko Haram.<\/p>\n
President Buhari said \u201cIn our efforts at combating the activities of Boko
\nHaram, the new Government has sought and obtained the support of not only
\nour neighbors, other international friends and partners. Regrettably, the
\nblanket application of the Leahy Law by the United States on the grounds
\nof unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against our
\nforces has denied us access to appropriate strategic weapons to prosecute
\nthe war against the insurgents. In the face of abduction of innocent
\nschool girls from their hostels, indiscriminate bombings of civilians in
\nmarkets and places of worship, our forces have remained largely impotent.<\/p>\n
This is because they do not possess the appropriate weapons and technology
\nwhich they could have had, had the so-called human rights violations not
\nbeen an obstacle. Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the
\napplication of the Leahy law amendment by the U. S. Government has aided
\nand abated the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its
\nextremist ideology and hate, the indiscriminate killings and maiming of
\ncivilians, in raping of women and girls, and in their other heinous
\ncrimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reacting to the comments by the President of Nigeria, Senator Leahy said
\nit is a documented fact that Nigerian Army personnel have often engaged in
\ngross violations of human rights.<\/p>\n
Senator Leahy Statement reads:<\/p>\n
Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) To Nigerian President Buhari\u2019s
\nMis-Directed Criticism Of The Leahy Law On Human Rights<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is well documented by the State Department and by respected human
\nrights organizations that Nigerian army personnel have, for many years,
\nengaged in a pattern and practice of gross violations of human rights
\nagainst the Nigerian people and others, including summary executions of
\nprisoners, indiscriminate attacks against civilians, torture, forced
\ndisappearances and rape.\u00a0 Rarely have the perpetrators been prosecuted or
\npunished.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis abusive conduct not only violates the laws of war, it creates fear
\nand loathing among the Nigerian people whose support is necessary to
\ndefeat a terrorist group like Boko Haram.<\/p>\n
\u201cPresident Buhari ignores the undisputed fact that most Nigerian army
\nunits have been approved, under the Leahy Law, for U.S. training and
\nequipment.\u00a0 Only those particular units against which there is credible
\nevidence of the most heinous crimes are ineligible for U.S. aid.\u00a0 And even
\nthose units can again become eligible if the Nigerian Government takes
\neffective steps to bring the responsible individuals to justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI strongly agree with President Buhari about the need to defeat Boko
\nHaram, and I have supported tens of millions of dollars in U.S. aid to
\nNigeria for that purpose. But rather than suggest that the United States
\nis at fault for not funding murderers and rapists in the Nigerian
\nmilitary, he should face up to his own responsibility to effectively
\ncounter Boko Haram.\u00a0 He should direct his attention to the Nigerian
\nmilitary, and the Nigerian courts, and clean up the units implicated in
\nsuch atrocities.\u201d<\/p>\n