The Defence Headquarters has said it is not against the Federal Government strengthening the operations of the Nigerian Army in fighting insecurity by hiring mercenaries.
It, however, added that the decision to engage mercenaries to assist the military in defeating the Boko Haram insurgency lies with the Federal Government.
It stressed the security forces are at the beck and call of the President who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
Governor Babagana Zulum had demanded the engagement of foreign mercenaries to tackle the insurgency following the massacre of 43 rice farmers in Zabarmari, Borno State by Book Haram terrorists on Saturday.
Endorsing Zulum’s demand, the governors of North-East states said the thought of hiring mercenaries to fight Boko Haram should be taken seriously.
Governor Fayemi of Ekiti who doubles as the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum added his voice to the call for recruitment of engaging mercenaries to aid military attack on insurgents.
Fayemi, who is a security expert, noted that the war against terrorists is a not a conventional war and the Nigerian army would need the assistance of neighbouring countries to decimate insurgency.
Fayemi said Nigerian army is overwhelmed and no victory would be recorded without support from other military forces.
Responding to questions from journalists during the weekly briefing on the security operations across the country in Abuja on Thursday, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche said the military had no business debating the proposal, adding that it was diligently prosecuting the war, and focused on victory.
He stated, “Request or proposal to engage mercenaries, that is at a very high level. The kind of armed forces and security agencies you have now is normally determined by the people.
”It (engagement of mercenaries) is not in our powers. It is a kind of force package; it is what the government wants. It is not for the military to begin to contend.”
“No armed forces anywhere will tell the people, ‘this is how we want to operate.’ The legislators, National Security Council, will decide on it,” he added.
When asked if the military was overstretched and overwhelmed as stated by the Chairman, Nigerians Governors Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi, on Wednesday, Enenche said it is for the authorities to decide if this was true.
“It is not for the military to say, we are overstretched; I am not overstretched. If I say, I am overstretched, that means, I don’t want to work. And if I say, I am not overstretched, that means, I am under-utilised”, the general noted.
