ABUJA: The United States on Thursday was donating 24 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to Nigeria’s military, to enable the country’s soldiers to combat Boko Haram insurgents who continued cutting a bloody path through northeast Nigeria.

In a bid to fulfill its promise of helping Nigeria fight the Boko Haram insurgency, the United States is donating the vehicles to the Nigerian Army.

The vehicles, which are valued at $11m, would be handed over to the military authorities at the Nigerian Army 9th Brigade Parade Ground, Ikeja Army Cantonment in Lagos.

A statement earlier, by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Consulate General Lagos, said: “The US is pleased to donate 24 Mine-Resistant, Armor-Protected (MRAP) vehicles valued at $11m to Nigeria’s military authorities.

“The equipment donation represents part of the continuing US commitment to Nigeria and its neighbours to counter Boko Haram’s senseless acts of terror and promote regional security.”

This is “to assist the West African country with both technical and military hardware to enable it to combat the rising challenges of regional extremism,” the statement said.

Temitayo Famutimi of the US Department of State said: “The equipment donation represents part of the continuing US commitment to Nigeria and its neighbors to counter Boko Haram’s senseless acts of terror and promote regional security.”

The United States also provides advisers, intelligence, training and logistical support to Nigerian military fighting Boko Haram as well as humanitarian aid and victim support services to some of the 2.5 million people driven from their homes by the insurgency.