Senior US diplomat Victoria Nuland met with Nigeria's National Security Adviser Nuhu Ripadu to discuss “promoting accountability and transparency” in continuing security operations in Nigeria, the State Department said on Thursday.
Why is it important?
Observers noted the pattern of deadly airstrikes by the Nigerian Military killing civilians. This is a special report published by Reuters last year.
The Nigerian Military is backed by the US, Britain and other allies in its long battle against Islamist insurgents in the northeast.
Key quote
“They agreed on the importance of protecting civilians, upholding human rights, and promoting ongoing accountability and transparency in security operations,” the State Department said in a statement Thursday.
environment
In December, civilians were killed in a military drone strike targeting insurgents and bandits in Nigeria's Kaduna state. 85 people including women and children were killed in this attack.
Boko Haram and the Islamist West African Province faction have waged an insurgency in northeastern Nigeria for more than a decade, carrying out sporadic attacks against civilians and the military.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will visit Nigeria next week as part of his West Africa tour.
