Retired General Warns Nigerians About US Troops' Role in Combating Banditry

Retired Major General Ijioma N. Ijioma raised concerns about the deployment of US troops in Nigeria, emphasizing that Nigerians should not expect them to engage in direct combat with bandits.

He criticized Nigerian leaders for their perceived leniency towards terrorists, citing historical instances such as the handling of the 1967 Biafran insurgency. Ijioma urged Nigerians to demand accountability from their leaders regarding the treatment of terrorists and emphasized the need for genuine resolve to crush insurgencies.

He highlighted the growing boldness of terrorists and questioned the swift deployment of Nigerian fighter jets to Benin Republic to quell a coup attempt while bandits continue to wreak havoc within Nigeria. Ijioma recalled a previous collaboration between the Nigerian and US militaries during former President Olusegun Obasanjo's first term.