Nigeria recibe ayuda militar de China para luchar contra Boko Haram

Nigeria Receives Military Hardware from China for Campaign Against Boko Haram

The African country is upgrading its offensive capabilities with tanks, self-propelled howitzers and amphibious vehicles. The weapons will be used to fight Islamic extremists who have waged an insurgency against the government for years.

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Photo: Reuters


Nigeria has started to take delivery of tanks and other weaponry from China for its ongoing war against Islamist insurgents in the West African country.

The first shipment including VT4 main battle tanks, ST1 8x8 wheeled tank destroyers and SH5 105mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers arrived at the Apapa Port Complex in Lagos on April 8.

According to reports, the weaponry is being delivered under a $152 million contract for equipment and training that was signed last year.

The VT4, the latest model of China's Type 90-II tank, reportedly uses technology from the Type 99A deployed by the People's Liberation Army. It is said to have a 125mm cannon, a remote weapon station on its turret, a digital communications system, and a fire control system with panoramic sight, thermal imaging and a laser rangefinder. The ST1 is a version of the Type 08 amphibious vehicle used by China's ground forces.

Nigerian troops underwent training in China to learn how to operate the weaponry. A plan for Chinese instructors to travel to Nigeria to provide additional training has been put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, reports said.

Commenting on the arrival of the weaponry, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, Nigerian Army chief of policy and plans, said "From this, you can see how serious the Federal Government of Nigeria is in making sure that the Nigerian Army is not only equipped but contains the problem of insecurity."

"From the army, expect more robust operation to put behind us the menace of insecurity, that of Boko Haram, bandits among others," he added.

Nigeria has been battling the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram in the far north of the country for over a decade. The insurgency is said to have killed more than 30,000 people.