The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Christopher Musa, on Friday declared that the use of military contractors is not an option in the fight against terrorism.
Musa said the money that would be used to pay contractors should be used to equip the Nigerian military.
He spoke on Arise TV’s Morning Show while reacting to Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume’s suggestion that Nigeria should employ military contractors in the fight against terrorists.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ndume had called military contractors after Boko Haram fighters slaughtered farmers in a fresh attack in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Boko Haram terrorists killed six farmers and abducted five others, including women.
Reacting to the senator’s suggestion, Musa said: “We appeal to Nigerians to support the Armed Forces, the challenges we are facing is not isolated. We are not where we want to be but we are heading there.
“Recently, we have military contractors in Mali and how far have they gone? Americans used military contractors in Afghanistan and they fought for 20 years, they left without finishing the war.
“What I’m saying is that asymmetric warfare is a very difficult operation because we are dealing with non-state actors. The only way to identify them is that they are carrying arms
“Ndume has spoken and there is freedom of speech in democracy, so I understand that he’s trying to look at options but for us it’s not an option. We are doing a lot of joint training with Europeans, Americans to build capacity in other to project this war.
“The war we are facing is not the conventional warfare where you know that the enemy is there, these guys are highly mobile and once you are going after them, there informants give them information about your movement and strength.
“On the 300 killed, we have done more than that, it’s still counting. Military contractors are not the solution because the money you are going to give them why not use it to equip your own military, that would be a better option.”
Boko Haram: Military contractors not an option – Defence Chief replies Ndume
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