Boko Haram: Finally, US ‘seeks to sell’ attack aircraft to Nigeria

Finally, the US government is hoping to sell up to 12 Super Tucano attack aircraft to Nigeria to help in the fight against Islamist militants Boko Haram, Reuters news agency reports.

An anonymous source within the administration is quoted as saying that the US also wants to provide more help with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

The sale of the aircraft would need to be approved by the US Congress.

The Super Tucano is described by Reuters as a propeller-driven plane that can carry a range of weapons and can be used for attack and surveillance.

Nigeria’s army has retaken a lot of territory in north-east Nigeria from Boko Haram in the last year. But the fight against the militants continues.

The seven-year insurgency, which has mainly affected north-eastern Nigeria as well as its neighbours around Lake Chad, has left some 17,000 people dead.

Recall that the US had under the last administration refused to sell arms to Nigeria, citing human rights abuse by the Nigerian military as the reason, among other things.