Defence Minister, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd.) has said that the United States did not violate Nigeria’s territorial integrity by conducting a hostage-rescue operation on Nigerian soil over the weekend.
He stated this while addressing reporters shortly after his ministry’s 2021 budget defence before the Senate on Tuesday.
Magashi said that the US obtained Nigeria’s permission before carrying out the military operation in Northern Nigeria.
The minister said the Federal Government of Nigeria granted immediate permission when the US government sought it since it is a “friendly country”.
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He added that the Nigerian government was doing all within its capability to deploy technology in its military’s operations.
Magashi further said that the Federal Government would continue to explore ongoing partnerships with the US government to bring an end to insurgency in the North-East.
Recall that US special forces on Saturday rescued an American man, Philip Walton, who was kidnapped by armed men and held at the Sambisa Forest.
Walton was kidnapped in Niger Republic and taken across the border in Nigeria.
But US Special Forces stormed the kidnappers’ den and rescued the hostage, killing six out of the seven suspects.
However, some critics including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mocked the Federal Government, saying it was kept out of the loop in the operation.
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