The United States of America has called on Nigeria to probe human rights abuses in the war against Boko Haram, as it pledged more funds to help recovery from the years of insurgency.
The Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said “transparent and credible” inquiries into violations and prosecutions were needed to help heal wounds in the battle wrecked region.
“This is essential to deepening the people’s trust of the government, strengthening security efforts in the northeast and improving the United States’ ability to partner with Nigeria,” he said while on a visit to Abuja.
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Nigerian troops have been repeatedly accused of abuses by Transparency International against Boko Haram suspects and civilians, including arbitrary arrest, torture, and extra-judicial killings.
The Nigerian military has consistently denied the claims but concern about the army’s record has limited direct foreign involvement in the fight-back against the insurgents.
A $593 million deal agreed under the Obama administration to sell Nigeria 12 Super Tucano A-29 ground attack aircraft was announced in May 2016.
However, this was halted after at least 112 people displaced by the conflict in northeast Nigeria were killed in January this year in an air strike gone wrong against the Islamist militants.
The State Department finally approved the sale in August.
US troops have been providing help to Nigerian and regional forces fighting Boko Haram, running an unmanned surveillance drone operation from a base in Garoua, Northern Cameroon.
Washington and other Western powers have also provided training for Nigerian troops.
Sullivan is the most senior Trump administration official to visit Nigeria this year.
He said the US was “committed to helping the Nigerian people provide their own security” but said military might alone was not enough.
“Nigeria’s success requires improvements to the economy and governance off the battlefield as well,” he said at a meeting of US and Nigerian officials.
