The latter, no later than last Sunday, informed the international press that the Nigerian army had managed to trace the location of the 276 female students seized. The news was not confirmed by any other government.
Boko Haram, however, wasted no time and struck government buildings and a school in Buni Yadi town in northern Nigeria on Monday night.
Meanwhile, we can finally confirm what we advanced in the past few weeks.
Defense Online was the first Italian newspaper to speak, a few hours after the crisis in Nigeria, of the special units deployed and already present in the Region, even when (as is the case according to the script) governments denied any armed involvement. We have the confirmation of another department of rapid intervention deployed and we can practically close the circle.
Canada, as widely reported by us in recent weeks, has operators of the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron in Nigeria. Those sent, celebrate from Canada (with a patriotism that in Italy, sorry to say, is not widespread), are not negotiators, but experts in the extraction of the hostages. Ottawa sent its "Lion Squadron", perhaps preparing the public for imminent armed intervention to free the unfortunate girls.
But it is not the only confirmation. London confirmed the presence of two SAS teams while the RAF has deployed aircraft with "ISTAR" or "Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance" capabilities. Armed drones, on the other hand, are American. The English Reaper are all lined up in Afghanistan. But there's more. On Nigeria, the RQ-170 Sentinel, the futuristic drone of Lockheed Martin, also flies. The CIA would have two "flying wings" on the Nigerian skies.
Assault group ready?
Let's be careful. If on the one hand it is true that the forces deployed in a hypothetical ideal confrontation would sanction the overwhelming victory of Westerners, on the other hand we must consider reality.
Beyond the possible plans of attack that we will analyze in the next days, there are other variables that must be considered. Meanwhile the internal bonds. Boko Harams have excellent relations with some tribes in northern Nigeria. Indeed, they are considered the saviors against the Western rottenness.
An armed intervention must necessarily take into account the reactions that could trigger in the country, once the last American soldier has left for the States. The US cannot afford to colonize Nigeria nor to lead it to a situation of tranquility and peace that would entail a fixed military presence or worse yet put a country in revolt. Then there is the Nigerian army.
American senators, as well as Secretary of State Kerry, do not trust those men already accused of crimes against humanity. A joint Western attack with the local army could be seen as an endorsement of the crimes committed by the men of Goodluck Jonathan.
Forces in the field
Boko Haram counts a force of around 1000 / 1500 men. The equipment is of the Soviet / Russian type. Most of the militiamen of the Islamic group do not have a military background, while some would have received an approximate training in one of the many camps managed with the Al Qaeda groups in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) and of Al Shabab in Somalia. The terrorists move aboard off-road vehicles (stolen from the many Western societies that have interests in Nigeria). Shekau has some armored vehicles of Soviet production, but they are not considered functioning and used only for propaganda. N'Djamena. Use of RQ-9 Sentinel drones confirmed. Obama has authorized the sending of "multipliers", but the training of Nigerians is currently suspended. The United States is reluctant to train those who could one day turn into possible enemies. Confirmed presence of an armed group of the CIA. 170 men between Seal, Delta and Tier-150 deployed in Chad. Marine force of a thousand men ready to intervene from the Naval Air Station of Sigonella, in Sicily. The 1nd reconnaissance battalion (known for having conducted some special operations) is part of the Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Unit.
Great Britain: SAS presence confirmed. At least two teams have been in Nigeria for a few weeks. Her Majesty's secret services have deployed spy planes.Australia: US-controlled assault unit "4 Squadron", already present in Africa and operating in Tanzania, Somalia and Mozambique, has been placed under American command. in Nigeria a group of the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron.Francia: Deployed department of the Foreign Legion.Israel: On the type of department deployed there is still no news, but the presence of a rapid intervention group is certain. Historically, in a crisis scenario, the US is always followed by England, Canada and Israel. Italy: No department deployed, but the Italian bases represent the launching pad of the Marines towards Europe and Africa, without considering the commands of the Air Force and of the US Navy present in the boot.
The Italian contribution, therefore, exists. The same goes for Spain and Germany.
Franco Iacch
