Amid reported presence of the United States (US) forces in Nigeria over the growing insecurity in the country, both the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) have kept mute over the development.
At the Ministry of Defence, MOD Ship House Abuja, a top official at the Ministry, who pleaded anonymity said that the trio of Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence and the Permanent Secretary travelled outside Abuja
At the Defence Correspondents, DHQ, both the Director of Defence Media Operations Maj Gen Michael Onoja and counterpart Director Defence Information, Major Gen Samaila Uba, could not be easily reached for comments.
However another very senior officer told our Correspondents that there was no need for the Military to react to an unconfirmed report from the appropriate quarters more so that the source of vague report had corrected itself
Tribune Online reports that the the United States (US) had sent a a small team of troops to Nigeria, according to the general in charge of the U S command for Africa (AFRICOM), e first acknowledgment of U.S. forces on the ground since Washington struck by air on Christmas Day.
The report added that the top general said the U.S. team was sent after both countries agreed that more needed to be done to combat the terrorist threat in West Africa.
Recall that President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on what he described as Islamic State targets in Nigeria in December and said there could be more U.S. military action there.
According to Reuters, Defense Minister Christopher Musa had earlier confirmed that a team was working in Nigeria but did not provide further details.
