Specialised Tasks, Training,
Equipment and Protection International (STTEP), a South African mercenary
company, says President Muhammadu Buhari rejected intelligence warnings about
operations of Boko Haram in Borno state.
STTEP was employed by former
president Goodluck Jonathan in January 2015 to assist the Nigerian army in the
war against the insurgents.
In a Facebook post on Sunday,
Eeben Barlow, STTEP chairman, said Nigerian soldiers have been reaching out for
help since his company’s services were terminated.
Barlow is speaking out in the
wake of the deadly killing of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents.
The latest attack in Melete
village, Borno, is believed to have led to the death of no less than 100
soldiers.
Weighing in on the development,
Barlow said Buhari’s administration did not allow his company to complete the
objective of “degrading and destroying” Boko Haram in Borno.
He wrote: “There is, in a purely
military sense, no such thing as a ‘technical defeat’—something the President,
as an ex-military man ought to know. Sadly, he also chose to make the successes
of 7 Infantry Division and 72 Mobile Strike Force (MSF) his own, when it
wasn’t.
“President Buhari and his team
were, however, part of the political leader group that led the vocal charge
about STTEP’s presence in Nigeria. Indeed, they made it known that the
company’s presence would not be tolerated under his office.
“The initial 3-phase campaign
strategy (known as ‘Operational Anvil’) to degrade and destroy BH in Borno
State, was rejected by his advisors.
“Many of the men we trained as
part of 72 Mobile Strike Force have remained in contact with us (STTEP),
pleading for our return to Nigeria. They have also told us that they have been
used to a point of exhaustion.
“Prior to, and following our
departure from Nigeria, we issued numerous intelligence warnings to his
government. These intelligence warnings were all rejected in favour of a false
belief. Neighbouring countries were advised not to listen to us as it was
claimed to be a cheap attempt to ‘get a contract’. Chad, Cameroon and Niger are
now also reaping the benefits of rejecting intelligence in favour of an
agenda-driven narrative.”
In a statement released on Saturday by his media team, the
president described the attack as a national tragedy and warned Nigerians
against politicising it.
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Nobody should take STTEP serious. I think and seriously believe that these guys should be ignored. They are contractors and looking for job they don't have the capacity and capability to execute
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