The immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has revealed that the acquisition of hitherto elusive weaponry in the last one year enabled the troops to have an upper hand against Boko Haram terrorists and the recovery of many local government areas that had been occupied by Boko Haram terrorists.
Sambo, whose homes in Abuja and Sokoto were invaded by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, in the week he left office named some of the deciding acquisitions to include Alpha jets, APCs, MRAP vehicles, advanced artillery pieces, assorted arms and ammunition, highly sophisticated surveillance drones, T-72 tanks and modified F7 supersonic jet fighters.
Speaking with PRNigeria, an information unit that co-ordinates activities of the security agencies, Dasuki said: “The armoured tanks have comprehensive NBC protection system, just as we deployed Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected, MRAP, vehicles that we bought and could withstand improvised explosive device, IED, attacks and ambushes. The vehicles had protected our troops from landmine threats.
“We are glad that we also provided assorted Armoured Personnel Carriers to transport troops to the battlefield. They are armed for self-defence and to provide protection from attacks from shrapnel and small arms fire.
“All these were acquired in the last one year after years of frustration by Western powers who denied us the equipment and sabotaged our efforts to acquire same from other sources which are reasons for some delay in delivery.”
According to him, some other arms already paid for by the previous administration are due to be delivered soon.
He said: “It was unfortunate that some elements are frustrating the efforts as we even had to query some suppliers for delay in delivery of arms and ammunition. We utilised some of these equipment to recover more than 22 local governments under Boko Haram terrorists and ensured that Shekau did not disrupt the 2015 election as he had threatened. Not only did we ensure that the elections were peaceful, Shekau has never spoken to threaten anyone again since then.”
Responding to critics of the past administration on security issues, he said: “In an attempt to rubbish individuals for whatever reasons, political or otherwise, we should be careful not to rubbish sensitive institutions and their personnel that might still be in active service.
“It is unfortunate that some elements hide under the cover of anonymity in the media to rubbish some of the sacrifices we made. They should have the courage to come out publicly by identifying themselves with their baseless allegations.”
