Military denies hiring S’African mercenaries against Boko Haram
The Defence Headquarters has denied media reports that the military had taken a decision to engage mercenaries from South Africa to prosecute the campaign against terror sect, Boko Haram, in the North-East.
Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar who debunked the claim said it was false and inspired by a desire to tarnish the reputation of the military.
He was reacting to media reports that the military had taken a decision to use mercenaries in the ongoing war against the insurgents.
Abubakar said those behind the story were only out to rubbish the current productive efforts of the security agencies involved in the ongoing campaign against the terrorists in the North-East.
The acting Defence spokesman, who described the reports as a cheap blackmail, urged members of the pubic to disregard the story and to continue to give the necessary support to security agencies in their current fight to stop the Boko Haram’s menace.
He stressed that the military had enough trained personnel to prosecute the war, saying the troops did not need the services of mercenaries or foreign troops to win the war.
Abubakar added that the military authorities had ensured adequate deployment of troops and equipment for the battles since the Presidential directive to bring the insurgency to an end in December.