The Media was awashed on Saturday with reports of how the United States Navy Seal Team Six successfully rescued an American citizen, Philip Walton on Nigerian soil.
Walton 27, son of missionaries in Massalata village in Niger Republic was abducted and a ransom of $1million demanded from the family for his release.
His abductors reportedly took him to a location in Northern Nigeria where they were to sell him to a terrorist group
Current matters gathered that the United States as required by diplomatic convention approached Nigeria and said they wanted Nigeria’s cooperation to rescue their citizen abducted in Niger Republic and that they have information of where he is in Nigeria if Nigeria and Nigeria cooperated.
The rescue mission was successful as Walton and troops (US and multinational force,JTF) were unhurt while no less than six of his abductors were killed.
Shortly ,after the mission it became an isolated success story of American troops by President Donald Trump who tweeted”
Last night,Our Country’s brave warriors rescued an American hostage in Nigeria.
Our Nation salutes the courageous soldiers behind the daring nightmare rescue operation and celebrates the safe return of yet another American citizen!”
However opinions suggested that the amplification of credit in the rescue mission by the United States is connected to the US election holding in a few days.
In a bid to shore up his support base for re-election , Trump savoured the victory without giving credit to the nations whose collaborative effort resulted in the success of the mission.
An Angry Nigerian,Salihu who spoke with current matters said,
Could the American troops successfully rescue the abducted man on Nigerian soil if there was no assistance from the Nigerian government? No of course.It is because of the same racial discrimination that has made the Americans to treat us the way they have done.Not even a thank you for cooperation.
” This is an election year in the US.As a matter of fact, Election is in 3 days so you can imagine the way the incumbent is beating the successful mission up. I heard he brought it up in one of his campaigns just to massage his ego and swing votes in his favour.”he said
Another Nigerian,who claimed to have studied International relations also said it was impossible for America to rescue the kidnapped victim alone.
” How is it possible in the first place? Where were the Navy Seals located to have just come in to Nigeria’s territory and rescue their citizen? This is common sense .It is someone who knew the area very well and who is part of an area that can tell someone how to go about that kind of operation How can the Navy Seals come in and go out if the Nigerian government did not cooperate with the US government.? Rescue mission involved so many things.There.are the ground troops and airtroops that would assist in the operation so it was a collaboration otherwise there could have been failure on the part of the Seals.”He said
Nevertheless, the US embassy in Nigeria has said it is grateful for the help rendered by the Nigerian Government via its military in the successful rescue of American held hostage in Northern Nigeria.
