Nigeria, U.S.: arms sales for $ 1 billion despite serious human rights abuses

WASHINGTON – The U.S. government has approved the sale of nearly …

1 billion dollars to Nigeria, despite concerns about human rights abuses by the Nigerian regime. U.S. officials themselves had denounced the military’s use of “excessive force” on unarmed civilians. Nigeria is also facing an increase in armed robberies and kidnappings for ransom in areas controlled by armed gangs. According to Al Jazeera reports, the U.S. concern is that due to sanctions on Russia and Belarus, previously Nigeria’s military partners, the state may now decide to purchase arms from China.