Germany has joined the fight against Boko Haram insurgency. Along this line, a German Advisory Team in charge of military equipment and programme aid earlier this week paid courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Acting Director Defence Information, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, said.

He disclosed that, speaking during the courtesy call, the Team Leader, Colonel Thomas Brillisauer, said that the aim of the visit was to discuss new areas of support in the fight against insurgency in the country.

Abubakar quoted Brillisauer as saying that Nigeria has been a reliable partner; therefore, there is the need to support her by prolonging and increasing the military relationship for the future of both countries. The Nigerian Defecne Spokesman noted that the German military are the sole trainers of the Armed Forces Electronic and Mechatronics Engineering (AFEME) Workshop and School.

“Describing the engagement of the two countries as very cordial, Colonel Brillisauer stated that the German government is ever ready and willing to improve on the existing relationship by wading into the current needs of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the ongoing war on terrorism which is different from other form of previous bilateral relation. These include Medical services to cater for the treatment of the war victims for the injured and traumatised, Military Mechanical Units, establishment of Peace Keeping Centre, provision of counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) equipments, Capacity Building and Training of Medical Personnel amongst others. This he said would increase the country’s footprint in Nigeria,” Col. Abubakar said in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja.

He also reported: “The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), represented by Defence Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Umar Omeiza, described both countries as partners in progress. He noted that the long standing relationship between the countries has yielded positive impact in the upgrading and establishment of Armed Forces Electrical Mechatronics Engineering workshop and school (AFEME). He therefore commended the German government on the proposed programme to support the military and expressed optimism that Nigeria would get out of the present security challenges and continue to exert its influence among the comity of nations.”

The statement recalled that countries like the United States of America, Great Britain, Korea, Pakistan and India among others, have thrown their weights behind Nigeria in support of counter insurgency operations.

•Photo shows Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. AG Olonisakin.

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