News: Nigerian ambassador blasts US for refusing to sell arms

Nigeria's ambassador to the United States has berated Washington for refusing to sell "lethal weapons" to fight his country's Islamic uprising, saying the extremists otherwise would have been defeated long ago.

Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye said the United States is letting down an old ally in its hour of need, and Nigeria's people and government feel abandoned.

"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," Adefuye told members of the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations Monday night.
"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 has refused Nigeria's requests to buy heavy weaponry because of allegations the defense forces have violated the human rights of Boko Haram suspects. It was not possible to get an immediate response from U.S. officials but U.S. laws ban sales of lethal weapons to countries whose military are accused of gross human rights abuses.
Adefuye dismissed the allegations as rumors spread by political opponents as Nigeria prepares for presidential elections in February.