Why we refused to sell Cobra helicopters to Nigeria -US

The United States has said that it refused to sell its
Cobra helicopters to Nigeria due to concerns about
the Nigeria’s military ability to use and maintain
them.
The cobra attack helicopter is a combat aircraft used
by the US marines with the ability to climb at the
rate of 8.2meters per second. It is equipped with a 20
mm M197 3-barreled Gatling cannon in the A/
A49E-7 turret (750 rounds ammo capacity).
But America stated that it had provided and
approved sales of military equipment to Nigerian
armed forces.
The US State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki,
stated this in Washington on Wednesday while
responding to questions from journalists on the
allegations made by the Nigerian ambassador to
US, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye.
Adefuye had told members of the Council on Foreign
Relations on Monday that the US refused to sell
lethal arms to Nigeria, adding that America was
not doing enough to assist in combating the Boko
Haram insurgency in North-Eastern part of the
country.
The ambassador said the US was letting down an
old ally in its hour of need, and that Nigerians and
the FG feel abandoned.
He said, “The U.S. government has up till today
refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal
equipment that would have brought down the
terrorists within a short time on the basis of the
allegations that Nigeria’s defence forces have been
violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects
when captured or arrested.”
“We find it difficult to understand how and why, in
spite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria, with their
sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram
should be expanding and becoming more deadly.”
Adefuye said that Washington had refused Nigeria’s
requests to buy heavy weaponry because of
allegations the defense forces have violated the
human rights of Boko Haram suspects.
He said allegations of human rights abuses by the
military were “rumors, hearsays and exaggerated
accounts put about by rivals of President Goodluck
Jonathan and rights groups.”
But Psaki in reaction to Adefuye’s allegations,
claimed there had been “a great deal” of US aid to
Nigeria.
She said there were ongoing concerns about the
Nigerian military’s protection of civilians when
conducting military operations, adding that these
had been discussed with the Nigerian authorities.

The Punch