Sources: US shuts aid to Nigeria’s army over Baga

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCulley has held a closed-door meeting with some members of Nigeria’s human rights community where he reportedly stated that in accordance with US law, the United States Governments would not provide any form of aid to the military of any country found to be abusing the rights of its citizens as witnessed in Baga, Borno state.

Sources close to the meeting which held at the Ambassador’s Abuja residence, said issues of extra judicial killings by security agents and state of insecurity in the country were extensively discussed.

Also discussed, said the source was “the unprecedented corruption in Nigerian government circles.”

Representatives of about 10 prominent human rights group attended the breakfast meeting held with Ambassador McCulley in Abuja.

At the meeting, Ambassador McCulley restated the US Government’s worry about the issues discussed and made references to the recently released human rights report of the US State Department which alleged widespread human rights abuses in Nigeria.

Between the 16th and 17th of April, a multi-national military operation against suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Baga, a town close to the Chadian border in Borno state culminated in the loss of a high number of civilian casualties, including women and children.

Death toll estimated at 187 has been disputed by the military high command, which claimed that 36 people were killed, including 30 Boko Haram members.

The military’s denial that thousands of homes were also set ablaze has been debunked by Human Rights Watch, via images seen by satellite after the military strikes on the fishing town.