Yes, we granted permission to the US to rescue her abducted citizen – Defence Minister

By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja

The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) Tuesday confirmed that the United States of America, secured the permission of the Federal Government of Nigeria before carrying out last weekend’s military operation by its elite commandos to rescue one of her citizen in the country.

Magashi spoke in an interview with journalists shortly after defending his ministry’s budget before the Senate Committee on Defence.

The United States Naval Special Warfare group, the SEAL Team Six, rescued Philip Walton, held in captivity in Nigeria after he was kidnapped in Niger Republic.

There has been insinuation that the Nigerian military and by extension, its government was in the dark about the United States military operation.

But Magashi, during the interview said Nigeria granted the US permission to carry out the military operation and maintained that Nigeria’s sovereignty was not violated.

The minister however expressed concern that Nigeria was handicapped in its war against the insurgents by some “so-called developed countries who want the country to remain the way it is and keep running to them for help.”

He claimed that the military has been able to contain the terror group, Boko Haram, with the available equipment and military personnel available to it.

The minister further assured that Nigeria would continue to explore its current warm relationship with the United States to tackle insurgency in the country.