South African mercenaries defeat Boko Haram in Nigeria

 

Via Terry 

I note with amusement that the news of South African mercenaries becoming involved (with very effective results) in the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria has just hit the headlines.

With their roots in South Africa apartheid-era security forces, they do not fit the standard image of an army of libeation. But after just three months on the ground, a squad of grizzled, ageing white mercenaries have helped to end Boko Haram's six-long year reign of terror in northern Nigeria.

Run by Colonel Eeben Barlow, a former commander in the South African Defence Force, the group of bush warfare experts were recruited in top secrecy in January to train an elite strike group within Nigeria's disorganised, demoralised army.

Some of the guns-for-hire cut their teeth in South Africa's border wars 30 years ago. But their formidable fighting skills – backed by their own helicopter pilots flying combat missions – have proved decisive in helping the military turn around its campaign against Boko Haram in its north-eastern strongholds.

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