JESU JRO, Benin -- U.S. Marines and sailors accompanied Benin’s National Surveillance Police to
Jesu Jro, Benin, Sept. 24, to conduct a combined border surveillance training
exercise.
The Marines and sailors with the Special-Purpose Marine
Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa came to Benin for a month-long
theater security cooperation mission to build the NSP’s capacity to counter
illicit trafficking along the country’s borders.
During the past month,
Marines and sailors taught combat marksmanship, patrolling, ambush techniques,
close-quarters combat, tactical questioning and the operations orders process to
150 NSP students. The training came at the request of the Beninese government
and through coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Benin.
After spending a
month learning U.S. Marine infantry tactics, the NPS leadership wanted the
students to train in Jesu Jro to show Beninese living in the border village the
government is serious about reducing criminal activities. The NPS acted out
scenarios in vehicle checkpoints, entry control points and detainee
handling.
Jesu Jro borders Nigeria and is one of many villages on the
almost 500 mile-long Beninese-Nigerian border that is troubled with illicit
trafficking.
The NSP is 10 years in the making and is comprised of 300
policemen, with plans to continue growing. The policemen were recruited from the
Benin National Police to form the specialized unit and this is the first time a
foreign force has come to train the unit in its young history.
The
exercise didn’t come at a surprise to the village, as the residents knew the NPS
was coming.
Ismael Igriss, a 21-year-old college student visiting family
in the tiny village, was among the many people who came out to see the Benin
government in action. He described the criminal activities the people
experienced in the past few years as a “nightly occurrence that harassed us and
stole all of our belongings at random.”
“They sometimes would come out
during the day, but mostly at night while we were sleeping,” said Igriss. “We
didn’t do anything to deserve this. We are just simple people. I honestly
believe with the [NPS] here today showing us what they are capable of, will not
just give us hope but give us confidence that we won’t have any more problems
once they are here permanently.”
Didier Atchou, the NSP commissioner and
central director of the Intelligence Bureau said his country has made strides in
curbing a myriad of illegal activities, but they need to build the NSP’s combat
capacity to counter “increased issues on the border.”
One of those
activities is wildlife trafficking, which is on the rise in Africa. The illegal,
multi-million dollar industry is negatively affecting wildlife populations and
economies, as the thirst for ivory and other animal-related parts are growing.
In 2014, President Barack Obama outlined initiatives in the National
Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking that calls for combined efforts to
reduce the demand for these products while simultaneously curbing the illegal
trade industry.
The strategy calls for “combined efforts from
nonprofits, corporations, individuals, and foreign government partners, to make
that happen.”
“Throughout the region, and throughout the world, wildlife
trafficking continues to push protected and endangered species to the brink of
extinction,” said Francisco Perez, the Public Affairs Officer for the U.S.
Embassy in Cotonou. “Increasingly, wildlife trafficking is intertwined with
other illicit activities that undermine national security and economic
prosperity. The partnership of the U.S. Marine forces training alongside the
Beninese Police Forces aids in the efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.”
Atchou also believes Benin’s commitment to deploy 800 of its armed
forces to join a multinational force that includes Chad, Cameroon, Niger and
Nigeria, to fight terrorist group Boko Haram, will result in retaliation by the
terrorist group in Benin.
“So far, Benin hasn’t had any terrorist attacks
and that’s why we need to be out in these villages along the border,” said
Atchou. “The people need to know we are there to help them and protect them even
more. We have taken measures against possible terrorist attacks and people who
just want to do bad things for themselves and our people need to know [we are
here].”
Atchou added the NSP has taken steps in making a permanent
presence in these towns. So far, they’ve built five border police stations with
plans to build more, including in Jesu Jro.
“It is important to note that
[the NSP] is a young special unit,” said Atchou. “They were policemen before,
now they’re part of an organization that requires different tactics. This is why
we asked for the U.S. Marines to come here to train our guys.”
Martial
Mehou, the deputy brigadier instructor for the academy, wants his country to
succeed in the fight against illicit trafficking throughout Benin’s borders and
the Marine training is helping him and his instructors better prepare future
students.
“We have isolated populations along the border who are always
getting harassed by these bad people,” said Mehou. “We want our people to go to
school, go to work and just live normal lives. With our presence on the borders
and the Marines’ training, we can accomplish this and I am confident we
will.”
1st Lt. Clifford A. Miles, the team’s officer in charge, said
the partnership between his team and NSP has grown exponentially since they
arrived a month ago. Though the NSP will be on the borders, Miles believes his
team and the Beninese are “in the fight together.”
“There is a lot of bad
in this world and anything we can do to show our support, we are more than
willing to do it,” said Miles. “After talking and working with these guys for
the past month, we’ve made a lot of friendships. They have the same mindset we
do – stopping the violence and creating an environment that fosters normalcy.
We’re glad to be here working with them.”
SPMAGTF-CR-AF Det. A is based
out of Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, where they stage and prepare for
theater security cooperation missions into various countries in Africa. This
specific iteration is manned by Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 8th
Marine Regiment, permanently based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.,
and Coast Guardsmen from various stations across the United States.