Lawyer Victor Giwa has highlighted what he described as the growing benefits of security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, citing a reported joint military operation in Borno State during which troops allegedly recovered equipment they had not previously encountered.
Giwa made the remarks during an interview with AIT, where he discussed international collaboration in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and other security challenges.
According to him, the partnership between the United States and Nigeria extends beyond diplomatic relations, encompassing military assistance, training, and operational support aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to combat insurgency.
Referring to a report he said he had seen, Giwa stated that U.S. and Nigerian soldiers recently conducted a joint operation against terrorists in Borno State.
He said the operation reportedly led to the recovery of equipment that the participating troops had never seen before.
“I saw a report two days ago that there was an operation that took place in Borno State and they discovered some equipment they had never seen. That was an operation between the US and Nigerian government, it has a great impact,” Giwa said.
Although he did not identify the equipment allegedly recovered or provide further details about the operation, Giwa argued that the development demonstrated the value of continued cooperation between the two countries in addressing security threats.
He noted that the United States has continued to support Nigeria’s security efforts through various forms of assistance.
According to Giwa, that support includes providing certain forms of aid to the Nigerian military as well as helping to train members of the Armed Forces.
“They are providing certain aids to even our military, they are training our military,” he said.
Giwa maintained that such cooperation has strengthened Nigeria’s ability to respond to terrorism and insurgency, particularly in the North-East, where security forces have continued operations against armed groups.
He argued that intelligence sharing, military training, and joint operations can improve operational effectiveness and help security agencies respond more efficiently to evolving threats.
According to the lawyer, collaboration with international partners also exposes Nigerian security personnel to new technologies, tactics, and operational methods that can enhance their capabilities.
He suggested that the reported discovery of previously unseen equipment during the Borno operation illustrates the changing nature of the threats confronting security forces and underscores the importance of continued cooperation.
While discussing the broader security partnership, Giwa emphasized that combating terrorism requires sustained collaboration between Nigeria and its international allies.
He argued that no single country can effectively address transnational security threats in isolation, making partnerships and intelligence exchange increasingly important.
The lawyer’s remarks come amid ongoing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to contain insurgent activities and improve security across parts of the country affected by armed violence.
Although Giwa referred to a report of the joint operation, he did not provide additional details regarding the date of the mission, the specific location within Borno State, the identity of the terrorist group involved, or the type of equipment allegedly recovered.
His comments focused instead on what he sees as the broader significance of U.S.-Nigeria military cooperation and its contribution to strengthening the country’s counterterrorism efforts.
According to Giwa, continued collaboration between both countries has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of military operations, improve the capabilities of Nigerian troops, and support ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
He concluded that partnerships involving training, operational support, and intelligence cooperation remain important components of the country’s strategy to combat terrorism and restore lasting peace in affected communities.
