British donate N1Bn equipment to boast fight against B/Haram in N/East

By Ladi Dapson, Maiduguri 
 
In efforts to curb improvised explosive devices (IDEs) in the Northeast, the British military has donated about N1 billion in highly technical equipment to the North East Operation Hadin Kai to mitigate IEDs and enhance the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency. 
 
The items are highly technical and non technical equipment worth £450,000 to enhance the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency and the ongoing partnership between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. 
 
Speaking at the handing over of the equipment at the theatre Command Training School, Maimalari cantonment Maidugurii, on Friday, the Deputy Commander, British Defence Staff, Col Martins Leach, said, “I am delighted to be here today to hand over these equipments and mark another development in the strong partnership between the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
 
”The United Kingdom stands with Nigeria in the continued fight against violent extremist organisations in the Northeast,” Leach said. 
 
He said they deployed a team of British military personnel to Operation Hadin Kai to train the Nigerian troops on the detection, recovery, and detonation of IEDs, where they were coming from, and who made them. 
 
Responding, the theatre commander, Northeast Joint Operation Hadin-Kai, Major General Wahidi Shuabu, said, “Training and equipment are the cornerstones of any capacity building. 
 
“I am delighted to witness the handover of counterexplosive device equipment to the Nigerian Armed Forces.” The Armed Forces of Nigeria have enjoyed much support from the British military in terms of equipment and training. 
 
Today the handing over of this explosive detection equipment will mitigate the cases of IED explosions and ambushes,” the theatre commander said. 
 
He assured the United Kingdom and the British military in particular that the equipment will be put to good use, stressing that the counter-IED equipment and the previous support from the British military are a testimony of the UK Government to the counter-insurgency fight in the Northeast, Nigeria.
 
General Shuabu also commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taured Lagbaja, and other service chiefs for their support in Operation Hadin-Kai.