We won’t recommend deployment of soldiers, US Congressmen say

Some of the United States Congressmen who were on a fact-finding visit to Nigeria, following the designation of the country as “Country of Particular Concern”, have said they won’t advise the deployment of soldiers to Nigeria. Washington has placed Nigeria back on the list of “countries of particular concern” regarding religious freedom and has restricted […]

Some of the United States Congressmen who were on a fact-finding visit to Nigeria, following the designation of the country as “Country of Particular Concern”, have said they won’t advise the deployment of soldiers to Nigeria.
Washington has placed Nigeria back on the list of “countries of particular concern” regarding religious freedom and has restricted the issuance of visas to Nigerians.
US President Donald Trump last month posted on social media that the United States was ready to take military action in Nigeria to counter the killing of Christians.
However, speaking with journalists in Abuja on Sunday night, a member of the delegation, Rep Keith Self, said, “I’m very pleased with what we’ve seen on this trip and what the US involvement can do in Nigeria, both now and in the future.
“Really a message of hope. I would say I am not prepared to recommend boots on the ground.”
He added that, “Nigeria needs to grab this issue and deal with it in its own sphere of influence before we consider that (sending in soldiers).”
Rep Self, who served in the US Army for 25 years, chairs the Europe subcommittee on the foreign affairs committee and has eight years in Europe.
He encouraged the Nigerian government to discuss the problems and proffer solutions, expressing optimism that the move would go a long way in resolving the security challenges in the country.
Also speaking on the threat to deploy soldiers to Nigeria, Rep Jefferson Shreve said, “Speaking for those that I represent, I don’t think there’s the appetite for boots on the ground here.
“But we have shoes on the ground. And I think there’s a case to be made for more shoes, more focus and resources on the challenges that this democracy is facing. Because we want to be helpful.”
On his part, the head of the delegation, Rep Bill Huizenga. declined to state the next step of action of the government after the visit, saying the team can’t dictate to President Trump what his policy should be.
He said, “We are not here, though, to dictate to President Trump what he will or won’t do. We cannot set his policy. We are an independent legislative body, and how we would be dealing with this is: ‘How do we go and initiate or respond to additional requests for help?’”