The United States has urged the Nigerian Military to consider changing tactics in dealing with the Boko Haram militants who seem to have evolved their attack modes. It was echoed on the sidelines of African Security Summit when delegations on both sides held a meeting.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sean McClure, the US defense attaché in Abuja maintained that Boko Haram’s tactics — from improvised explosive devices to hiding within the local population — necessitate a shift away from conventional strategies.
Among the tactics suggested include the use of community mobilization and creating a more civilian-friendly military who have sought alternative governance form the ISIS-affiliated terror organization. Therefore, Nigeria ought to adopt both conventional and unconventional warfare to defeat the Boko Haram entirely.
As the United States steps up its military presence in Africa, it hopes to share lessons learned in the Middle East with Nigeria and other countries in the Sahel fighting extremist groups.
The Sahel region is host to a string of Islamist groups including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in Mali and Boko Haram in Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad area.
