US Lawmakers Ask President Biden To Halt $1 Billion arms sale to Nigeria

 US Lawmakers Ask President Biden To Halt $1 Billion arms sale to Nigeria

Two members of the U.S. Home of Representatives International Affairs Committee, Democrat Sara Jacobs of California and Republican Chris Smith of New Jersey, have written President Joe Biden to rescind a virtually $1 billion arms sale to Nigeria following Reuters reviews on an unlawful abortion programme and the focused killing of youngsters by the Nigerian army.

This was contained in a letter addressed to President Joe Biden that was collectively signed by the lawmakers, calling for a evaluation of Nigeria’s safety help and cooperation programmes, together with a threat evaluation of civilian casualties and abuses brought on by arms help.

The Reuters collection, “Nightmare in Nigeria,” sparked requires the Nigerian authorities to analyze from the U.S. departments of state and protection, the German international ministry, the United Nations, Amnesty Worldwide and Human Rights Watch. Human rights consultants stated the military’s actions might represent warfare crimes.

The lawmakers, in response to the letter, expressed their dissatisfaction with the info acknowledged within the Reuters report and acknowledged that persevering with with the practically $1 billion arms sale with Nigeria can be extremely inappropriate.

The letter reads: “We write to precise our concern with present U.S. coverage on and army assist to Nigeria. Final month, Reuters accomplished a collection of investigations into the Nigerian army’s conduct, which revealed an alleged secret mass compelled abortion program since 2013 and obvious systemic focused killings of youngsters, along with a constant file of human rights abuses and civilian casualties. Regardless of this, america just lately authorized a $997 million sale of 12 AH-1Z Assault Helicopters and associated coaching and tools to Nigeria.

“Over the past 20 years, america has had a big safety partnership with Nigeria, with greater than $232 million in safety help, $1.6 billion in international army gross sales, and $305 million in direct business gross sales. 

“Whereas america has paired its safety help with coaching targeted on worldwide legislation compliance, humanitarian employees on the bottom report that Nigeria’s safety forces “seem to have a restricted understanding of humanitarian legislation and instruments for efficient engagement with native populations.” Furthermore, the help now we have offered has carried out little to stem the battle – in actual fact, insecurity has worsened from the abuses dedicated by Nigerian forces. 

“On prime of all of this, there proceed to be reviews of weapons captured by insurgents – weapons that the State Division and Protection Division have confirmed unable to sufficiently monitor.

“Subsequently, we imagine persevering with to maneuver ahead with the practically $1 billion arms sale can be extremely inappropriate and we urge the Administration to rescind it. Given the latest reporting of Nigeria’s beforehand unknown mass compelled abortion program – which allegedly ended no less than 10,000 pregnancies – and the focusing on of probably 1000’s of youngsters, we additionally urge a evaluation of safety help and cooperation applications in Nigeria to incorporate a threat evaluation of civilian casualties and abuses ensuing from such help and whether or not such help has ever been diverted or had any vital constructive impact on the battle and violence in Nigeria.”

“We respectfully request a briefing on the progress of this evaluation no later than 30 days after receipt of this letter. Thanks in your consideration to this vital matter and we sit up for your response,” the letter added.