Jonathan’s Govt Acquired Sophisticated Weapons To Fight Insurgency – EX-NSA Dasuki

Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) has said that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan facilitated the acquisition of hitherto elusive military weaponry in the last one year that led to the recovery of many local governments that were occupied by Boko Haram terrorists.

Dasuki specifically named some of the deciding acquired weapons to include Alpha jets, APCs, MRAP vehicles, advanced artillery pieces, assorted arms and ammunitions, highly sophisticated surveillance drones, T72 and carried out modification of F7 supersonic jet fighters.

The former NSA, who stated these during a chat with a Public Relations firm based in Abuja, PRNigeria explained that the armored tanks have comprehensive NBC protection system, adding that the former President Jonathan’s administration equally deployed Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles that were bought and could withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes.
According to him; “The vehicles had protected our troops from the land mine threats. We are glad that we also provided assorted Armoured Personnel Carriers to transport troops to the battlefield. They are armed for self-defence and to provide protection from attacks from shrapnel and small arms fire.

“All these were acquired in the last one year after years of frustration by Western powers who denied us of the equipment and sabotage our efforts to acquire same from other sources which are reasons for some delay in delivery.”
Dasuki further said that some other arms already paid for by the previous administration are due to be delivered soon.

He said; “It was unfortunate that some elements were frustrating the efforts as we even had to query some suppliers for delay in delivery of arms and ammunitions. We utilised some of these equipment to recover more than 22 local governments under Boko Haram terrorists and ensured that Shekau did not disrupt the 2015 election as he had threatened.

“Not only did we ensure that the elections were peaceful, Shekau has never spoken to threaten anyone again since then. In an attempt to rubbish individuals for whatever reasons, political or otherwise, we should be careful not to rubbish sensitive institutions and their personnel that might still be in active the service.

“It is unfortunate that some elements hide under the cover of anonymity in the media to rubbish some of the sacrifices we made. They should the take the courage to come out publicly by identifying themselves with their baseless allegations,” Dasuki insists.

The former NSA has been a subject of media attention following the invasion of his homes in Abuja and Sokoto by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), shortly after he was relieved of his position by President Muhammadu Buhari.