British Government’s Offer Of Assistance To Nigeria Does Not Involve Deploying Troops In Nigeria - Ambassador

Contrary to the expectations of many Nigerians, the United Kingdom, UK, has finally come out to state that its not considering sending troops to Nigeria to rescue the more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamists group, Boko Haram, in Chibok, Borno state.

This piece of information was disclosed on Wednesday, 30 July, 2014, by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, while speaking to newsmen on board HMS Iron Duke, a Royal Navy Warship on a working visit to Nigeria.

According to the ambassador, the British Government’s offer of assistance to Nigeria in the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls does not involve deploying troops in Nigeria to assume any combat roles.

* UK ambassador in Nigeria, Pocock
“What we are doing is bringing in some form of expertise, particularly in training and advisory roles and not combat roles,” he said.


Pocock stated that combat roles specifically is Nigeria’s responsibility, adding that the Nigerian government should not expect the kind of presence the French has in Mali as the two scenarios are completely different.
“We are not bringing troops in any combat role. What the Prime Minister, David Cameron said six weeks ago in London is that we recognise the difficulties that Nigeria is facing with security at the moment. And that was in response to the invitation by President Jonathan for assistance. 

That is specifically Nigeria’s responsibility. We are not bringing troops to Nigeria. We are not doing what the French did in Mali; it’s a different scenario entirely,” he said.