Thread by @DefenseNigeria

What will it take for the Nigeria to secure the border? We could shut down the border to stem the smuggling of rice but we cannot do the same to stem the smuggling of weapons and fighters? Cross border attacks up north. incursions Cameroon and Ambazonian militants

down South. Ironically, If there's one man that knows a thing or two about how to effectively execute a border closure, its the current President. The border closure of August 2019 was the most comprehensive in Nigeria's history. Within months Presidents of the affected

..countries began flocking to Abuja pleading for leniency. They took for granted the fact that have been enjoying unfettered access to one of the world's biggest consumer market for decades.

This invokes memories of April 1983 when Chadian troops invaded and occupied Nigerian Lake Chad islands. General Buhari, commander of the 21 Amoured Brigade closed the border with Chad to prevent

Chadian troops from retreating as he mobilized the army, disobeying a direct order from President Shagari's to open the border. What followed was a week of artillery bombardment and harassing raids from MiG-21s on Chadian forces. When the Chadiana, in their desperation

..to flee the country broke through the small detachment of troops manning the border, Gen Buhari and his men chased them right across the border into Chad, ignoring a direct order from President Shagari to halt his advance until Nigerian forces were 12 km from N'djamena

It took the threat of Court Marshall for the GOC to call halt their advance. He was summoned by the President to explain his actions, where he claimed in the heat of battle he did not realized he had crossed into Chadian territory. He never forgave President Shagari,

..who he accused of showing weakness. Months later Shagari was GONE.

In 1984, head of state GMB in a move that highlighted his preference for protectionist economic policies as a way of boosting economic growth and reducing unemployment ordered a complete border shutdown.

The security imperatives of today far outweighs those of the aforementioned period. Of the five million illegal firearms in West Africa 85% of them make their way into Nigeria. Insurgents use Lake Chad as a staging base for attacks in Nigeria. U.S and French drone bases

A few dozen km away in Chad are well aware of ISWAP activities in those islands and but allow them free rein. 19 Reaper drones spread across Cameroon, Niger and Chad. Not a single recorded strike on ISWAP enclavs in Chad in six years. Yet from bases in Chad they fly

strike missions into southern Libya and even Somalia, hundreds of miles away. Those doubting Thomases should look up the proximics between drone bases in Njamena Chad, or Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger, and known ISWAP enclaves. There is another drone base in Garoua Cameroon.

The French have drone bases of their own in Chad & Niger, from where they hit militant camps in Libya. They Mirage fighters in Chad and Niger whose job is to interdict militants from Libya threatening the Derby regime. Once they know militants from Libya are enroute to threaten

Derby the militants never make it past the Libyan desert before they interdicted. A follow on strike on their camps in southern Libya are hit as punishment. Meanwhile a few dozen kilometres away we have ISWAP building training camps and then using them as a staging base for

attacks in Nigeria, after which they slip back across the border to the relative safety and tranqui of their enclavs in Lac Province. For six years. Till this very day, 19 November 2021 there has not been a single strike by U.S and French forces against ISWAP.

But when Philip Walton was abducted the U.S miraculously deployed a dizzying array of assets, knew exactly where the kidnappers were, neutralized every one of them, got their man. Bugged out. it was over in 10 minutes. Keep an open mind. Think about it for a minute.

They also do not to share intel derived from their drones because "they do not trust the Nigerian government". They claim the government is compromised. This alone should make Abuja realize they have no interest in seeing Wesy Africa devoid of the ISWAP threat.

They need West Africa as a base. Libya is saturated by forces from Russia, Turkey, the UAE . Its a crowded field. But with bases in West Africa they can monitor events in Libya and carry out strikes accordingly. West Africa is prime real estate. How does Washington and Paris

Justify their presence in West Africa? Thats right, to help partner nations defeat Boko Haram/ISWAP. I watched the clip of the Obama admin lobbying Congress for billions of dollars to build bases in Garoua Cameroon, Agadez, Niger and D'djamena Chad. (Ill find that clip)

Not once was the word "Libya" mentioned. The bases was to help Nigeria and neighbouring countries defeat Boko Haram. This was late early 2016. This was actually good news even though it was coming a little too late, coming after fall of Sambisa. Even though a year earlier

French intelligence got wind of a secret arms deal between Nigeria and Israel for Viper helicopters and notified President Obama, who then subsequently blocked the deal, citing human rights concerns...who also later FROZE the Super Tucano deal citing the propensity of the NAF

to use it against civilians. All actions that helped Boko Haram and crippled the Nigerian military...oh, and before that, refused to recognize Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation for 3 years. Because such official recognition will make it obligatory for the U.S government

to assist Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram.

The Nigerian military somehow defy the odds. Take back captured territory from Boko Haram. Invade Sambisa. Capture Camp Zairo. Basically defeating Boko Haram in a technical sense.

Now, if Boko Haram is defeated..its OVER.

The job is done. Their presence in West Africa will no longer be justified. Without a base of operation in West Africa they lose Libya to Russia and Turkey. They need a congent excuse/reason to maintain their presence in West Africa.

So what happens after Camp Zairo falls and

bulldozers start clearing the Sambisa to built a shooting range? The same Obama that fought hard to cripple the Nigerian military starts lobbying Congress for billions to build bases in Niger, Cameroon and Chad to help Nigeria defeat Boko Haram.

They build their bases. Boko Haram comes back from the dead. Bigger stronger, better equipped. Now they had the perfect excuse to maintain their presence. But rather than hitting Boko Haram as promised, they'e been hitting militant bases in Libya and Somalia. Six year.