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Nigerian Army Special Operations Command (NASOC)

Nigeria announced 13 January 2014 the creation of the Nigerian Army Special Operations Command (NASOC) at a Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency Lessons Learned Exchange between the United States and Nigeria. US has been involved in capacity-building for military personnel. There have been various workshops on civil–military relations, strategic communication and counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency, which were supported by the United States. Through such collaboration, the Nigerian Army established Nigerian Army Special Operations Command (NASOC).

Despite Nigeria's position as the anchor of US-supported peacekeeping operations in the region, Congressionally-imposed sanctions for the October 2001 Benue massacre (lifted in 2004) and the protracted presence of Charles Taylor reduced a security assistance program that had been the second largest in sub-Saharan Africa. Working with the Nigerian military, both as an operational partner for peacekeeping operations and with security assistance programs, was frequently frustrating. Whether our difficulties stem from a nationalist reluctance to work with America, disagreement with policy, or an "oga" (Nigerian term for chief/"big man") carving out some bit of authority and making sure that everybody sees his power, the results are the same.

There had been a lack of Nigerian initiative to follow through on programs that they saw as imposed by the West. This was especially true when many military leaders question whether America can be trusted as a friend over the long term. The US frequently heard about how unfair Leahy sanctions were. Section 564 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2000 and related provisions in the Defense Appropriations Act of 1997, known as the “Leahy Amendment” require the U.S. embassy to check Nigerians backgrounds for human rights abuses before training is allowed.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika made this known in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists shortly after the opening ceremony of a workshop on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism organized by the Nigerian Army. He noted that the role of the army, like that of the other services, is very crucial in finding the right strategies to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists and curb other security problems such as oil theft in the south-south geo-political zone of the country. “Having the special operation command will make operations at the long run less cumbersome and less expensive” he said.

The Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Sani said it had become pertinent to create a special outfit that can address the current and unexpected challenges. He said this became necessary as clearly stated in the chief of Army Staff vision which is to Transform the Nigerian Army into a force better able to meet contemporary challenges. Sani further said NASOC operation will be governed by precision of conduct, accurate timing, speed and execution, and surprise to keep any adversary off balance.

According to the Nigerian Army’s Chief of Transformation and Innovation, NASOC would be a “low density high level strategic utility force capable of conducting direct action at low visibility operations. NASOC operation will be governed by precision of conduct, accuracy timely, speed and execution, surprise to keep any adversary off balance while in special operations.”

Through US Africa Command (AFRICOM), US Special Operations Command, Africa (SOCAFRICA), and the Office of Security Cooperation in the US Embassy in Abuja, the United States will be helping stand up the NASOC by providing training and a limited amount of equipment.

The insurgency in the Northeast of militant terrorist sect Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, better known as Boko Haram (which translates to “Western education is forbidden”), continued. Casualties and human rights abuses associated with Boko Haram attacks and the government’s response escalated. On 24 April 203, President Jonathan inaugurated a Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North. Self-appointed Boko Haram spokespersons rejected dialogue or amnesty. On May 14, President Jonathan declared a six-month state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, which was extended for another six months on 20 November 2013.

The government and its agents committed numerous arbitrary or unlawful killings. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Committee against Torture held mandates to examine security force killings and refer alleged perpetrators for prosecution but did not do so.

Joint task forces (JTFs), composed of elements of the military, police, and other security services, conducted raids on militant groups and criminal suspects in the states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Katsina, Jigawa, and Yobe. These raids resulted in numerous deaths of and injuries to alleged criminals, militants, and civilians.

Local NGOs, international human rights groups, and political and traditional leaders in the affected states accused the security services of indiscriminate and extrajudicial killings. Although the constitution and law prohibit such practices and provide for punishment of such abuses, torture is not criminalized, and security service personnel, including members of JTFs, regularly tortured, beat, and abused demonstrators, criminal suspects, militants, detainees, and convicted prisoners.

In May 2014, for the first time, US Army Africa personnel travelled to Africa to train a Nigerian Ranger Battalion for decisive action, meaning the training they receive will help the Nigerian Army counter a real threat within their country. Normally, USARAF partners and trains existing battalions to go on peace keeping missions for the UN, but at the request of the Nigerian government, they along with a mix of special forces and general purpose forces from the National Guard and active duty are all coming together to provide full-spectrum operational training for the 650-man ranger battalion.

What USARAF is doing with the Nigerian Ranger Battalion is one small piece of a greater effort with multiple activities that are linked together to achieve a shared vision. It is helping Nigeria and its neighbors to develop a Boko Haram strategy, so when getting permission from the Department of State, part of the measures of effectiveness had to be explained to them. Measures of effectiveness with the Nigerian rangers are in sync with what’s going on regionally such as a reduction of suspected human rights violations; increased engagement with Boko Haram by the Nigerian Military; and increased cross border coordination between Nigeria and partners are the end state.