Nigeria’s long-running battle against insurgency has once again come under intense scrutiny after a member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Jaha, made a striking revelation about how foreign mercenaries once helped the country confront Boko Haram militants in the North-East.

Speaking about the fight against terrorism, the Borno lawmaker recalled that during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, a small group of foreign mercenaries was brought into the country to support the military operation against Boko Haram insurgents.

According to Jaha, the foreign fighters were fewer than thirty, yet their methods and operational strategy reportedly made a significant impact on the battlefield.

“During Jonathan, we brought mercenaries who were about to finish Boko Haram,” he said.

The lawmaker explained that the mercenaries relied heavily on advanced surveillance and intelligence gathering before carrying out operations against insurgent hideouts.

“They were less than thirty. They all had a laptop before them, observing what is happening in the bush,” Jaha said while describing their approach to identifying Boko Haram camps.

He noted that once the mercenaries discovered a location believed to be an insurgent enclave, they would first analyze the type of weapons and explosives present in the area.

“Moment they discovered an enclave, they identify the weapons and explosives the insurgents have,” he added.

After gathering intelligence, only a small operational team would be deployed for the mission. According to Jaha, the fighters would board a helicopter and head directly to the targeted location.

“Then the mercenaries will take only three or four people in a chopper, take off, go and clear everything,” he said.

The lawmaker further stated that the operations were documented as evidence after each mission.

“They will snap pictures before clearing them and bring back evidence,” he explained.

However, despite the apparent effectiveness of the operation, Jaha claimed the mercenaries were eventually asked to leave the country.

“But because of our complacency and personal aggrandizement and personal interest, we asked them to go back,” he said.

The decision, according to him, has continued to haunt Nigeria’s security efforts, as the insurgency remains a major challenge years later.

“And we are still battling with the issue,” the lawmaker lamented.

Jaha also spoke from personal experience, noting that he witnessed the situation firsthand while serving in Borno State.

“I was in Borno State as a member of State House of Assembly when the mercenaries were in Borno,” he stated.

Watch video of his statement below

The comments have reignited debate about the role foreign military contractors once played in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram. Analysts and security observers have repeatedly pointed out that the insurgency, which began in 2009, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions across the region.

Over the years, calls have emerged from several political leaders and security experts urging the federal government to reconsider the deployment of foreign mercenaries or specialized military contractors to support Nigeria’s armed forces in tackling insurgency and banditry.

For many residents of the North-East, the comments by the Borno lawmaker highlight the ongoing frustration with the prolonged security crisis and the urgent search for new strategies capable of restoring lasting peace in the region.