US Congressman Riley M. Moore has outlined two conditions the Nigerian government must meet before any partnership with the US military to address the security challenges confronting the country can be considered.
Rep. Moore, in an interview with Fox News, said the first requirement is the release of Sunday Jackson, who was sentenced to death for killing a Fulani herdsman in what he claimed was self-defence.
A report said that Jackson received the death sentence after killing a herdsman who allegedly invaded his farm.
In the interview, the Republican lawmaker insisted that the young man must be released before the US would consider partnering with Nigeria to tackle the decade-long security crisis.
He added that the second requirement is for the Nigerian government to present a credible plan to disarm Fulani herdsmen who are causing unrest in the Middle Belt.
He said, “It sounds like they are open to partner with the United States to stop these killings. They met with myself and the administration as well.
“We made some progress in getting them to place to partner with us to stop these killings but there is a lot of things they need to do and I think one of the first steps is releasing Sunday Jackson.
“Another one is to come up to work with us with a plan to disarm the radical Fulani militants in the Middle Belt of the country.”