Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Jeremy Hunt, said Nigeria should seek support in the fight against Boko Haram and that Britain would be willing to give.
Mr Hunt said a perceived rift is fueling violence in the region between the Nigerian Army and the local population in the North-East.
He said “intelligence information reaching him” reveals that lack of trust between authorities and indigenous people is one of the reasons that drives the region’s attacks.
He also stated that “only if the authorities are asked to help,” would the British administration want to support the military combat insurgency.
In August 2017, the British government announced £ 200 m to help Nigeria fight insurgency and train its military personnel for four years: from 2018 to 2022.
During a visit to Maiduguri as part of his Africa tour seeking ‘ new UK partnerships ‘ throughout Africa, Mr Hunt gave the latest assurance, The Guardian (UK) reports.
From April to May 2019, he is expected to visit Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
“I am here in Maiduguri North-East Nigeria, where the conflict involving both Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa has resulted in two million displaced people living in refugee camps,” Mr Hunt reportedly said.
“And the UK is supporting the extraordinary work of the World Food Program (WFP). We have given £ 150 million since the beginning of the conflict and as a result of their activities here they have been able to feed 1.5 million people.”
“We want to support and help them, but they are a sovereign nation and they have to want our assistance, “he said.” I feel the key determinant is the willingness and the Nigerian government and Nigerian army to collaborate closely with us.
The British envoy also accused the military of moving local people to cities “and assuming members of Boko Haram are those who are not in a secure area.”
While the approach is understandable, he said, “the effect means that the indigenous people are deprived of their livelihood and homes.”
“The feedback I received from on – the-ground NGOs is that lack of trust between authorities and local people is one of the things that is currently fueling the issue.”
“The strategy of the Nigerian army is largely about herding people into cities and saying if you’re not in a safe area, we’ll assume you’re Boko Haram and/or Islamic State West Africa,” he added.
The official said his government is planning to provide Nigeria with both military and non-military support.
“I think our approach is potentially very important because we could bring not only the British Army (support) but also DfID (International Development Department) and our experience of holistic solutions to such situations,” Mr Hunt explained.