Last October, four US soldiers belonging to the "Green Berets" (3 ° SFG), fell victim to an ambush near the village of Tongo Tongo in Nigerian territory. One of them, Sergeant David Johnosn, died in unclear circumstances because during the action he was suddenly separated from the group and his corpse was found two days after the conflict.
US Africom has launched an investigation to shed light on what happened and to understand the dynamics that led to the death of a highly trained military. A commission of US officers went to the African village to gather information and interview the locals; From the data collected to date it has emerged that Sergeant Johnson was found with his arms tied behind his back and with a deep wound behind his head. If so, it is beyond doubt that the green cap was captured and killed in cold blood before it was sent Delta Force.
To deal with the vicious story is General Joseph Dunford, who did not put any time limit on the investigation, until at least all the useful elements to shed light on the case.
According to what was stated in mission documents, American 12 operators were accompanying the indigenous troops in the surrounding areas of Tonga Tonga village; other news reports - such as NBC - reported that the patrol was distracted by the normal procedures to prosecute a terrorist suspect belonging to the ISIS GS (Greater Sahel). In this case new questions emerge about the alleged authorizations needed to carry out such an action; President Donald Trump said that he had never granted permission to his soldiers, he nevertheless admitted that he had left the commanders the power to decide - with discretion and prudence - whether or not to intervene in the case of an opportunity to arrest some terrorists of the Islamic State. The Pentagon also pointed out that the area was foreign to terrorist attacks, despite a report by the United Nations that 46 has been attesting since the beginning of this year. The main problem is, in fact, the security measures considered too superficial: the ODA Team has even moved without aerial coverage available.
Another thing that is still unclear concerns the ambassadors and who has captured and then assassinated the American: were they really terrorists? Obviously to express any judgment we must wait for the end of the investigation, unless it is influenced by decisive political factors to justify a possible increase in the US military presence in Africa.
Also read: "The Nigerian affaire"
(photo: US Air Force)
