Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters
has described the latest report released by Amnesty International (AI),
alleging human rights violations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), as a
gross disservice to the nation’s high security command.
It accused AI of working towards
weakening the efforts of the AFN at ensuring peace and security in the country.
Brigadier General, John Agim,
Brigadier General, Acting Director Defence Information, in a statement on
Friday, observed that AI has made it a routine duty to continue generating
tension among the citizens by releasing unconfirmed reports, unsubstantiated
claims and figures relating to military counter-insurgency operations and
wanton killings by unknown groups or persons.
The statement in full: “It is
pertinent to re-iterate that the AFN as a responsible institution, financed by
taxpayers, is bound to respond to these allegations in order to put the records
in proper perspective.
The AI allegations of human
rights violations and extra judicial killing of civilians by the AFN have
followed a specific trend for some time now. It could be noted that the organization’s
allegations made against the AFN since 2011 to date are largely
unsubstantiated.
The figures released by the
organization showed that 4,900 Boko Haram detainees were held in Giwa Barracks
in an overcrowded facility where 340 detainees had already died of diseases and
dehydration.
“They further stated that 164
civilians were killed by the Nigerian Air Force when an IDP camp was hit at
Rann by a Nigerian Air Force fighter Jet and also that 12 IPOB members were
kill in Umuahia by the AFN.
Unfortunately, AI have failed to
acknowledge the on-going fair trial and conviction of culpable members of the
dreaded Boko Haram sect and the release of those not found guilty.
The number of persons released
and re-integrated with the larger community is over 500. Both the convicted and
freed suspects were earlier arrested from different locations across the
country and taken to Kainji, a place that is relatively safer with enough space
to accommodate them while providing the detainees with 3 square meals daily.
The suspects were also given
proper medical attention by military medical team attached to the detention
facility. It is notable that the arrested Boko Haram members from the ongoing
OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE were being tried by the Federal High Court at Wawa
Cantonment Kainji since Friday 16 February 2018 convicting 205 detainees to
various jail terms while 526 suspects have been freed for want of evidence.
Other sins of the Nigerian
Government as captured by the AI in its report include infringing the rights of
lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals and transgender as well as intersex persons.
These AI championed rights have
been strictly outlawed by Laws of the Federation of Nigeria subsuming the
Nigerian constitution as well as the cultural practices of our people. This
position of AI, clearly show slack of respect for the constitution of Nigeria
which these laws have become part. Let it be known that the Nigerian Government
and its people are not ready and would never be, even in future, to please AI
or anyone with the introduction of such things.
However, if AI feels strongly
against the position of the Nigerian people on this issue and wants to assist
the ‘victims’, they could issue these class of people with green cards to
enable them re-locate to other places across the world that accept such
practices as it may not be necessary for them to remain Nigerians.
Generally, the authenticity and
sources of figures generated by AI are worrisome. Regrettably, the military
high commands were never contacted for clarification or guidance. The Defence
Headquarters on its own made concerted efforts to meet with the country
management of AI to discuss related issues without success, as they had
consistently failed to show up. This reaction of AI connotes that the body in
Nigeria could had been sponsored to frustrate conflict resolution efforts
towards peace and positive development of the nation.
The deliberate falsehood peddled
by AI could cast the nation and its security apparatus in bad light. Meanwhile,
AI does not seem to see anything wrong about the insurgents’ activities and
known criminals until security agencies rise to the occasion of effectively
containing their actions.
It could be noted that anytime
the AFN has reasonable assurances of getting military hardware and or
expendables to further its operations or are recording remarkable successes,
the AI as an organization would come forward with falsehood to weep up
anti-Nigerian sentiments within the international community. These are evident
in the AI reports from 2011 to date.
Such reports had made in roads to
the US congress a couple of years back leading to the invocation of Leahy Law
against Nigeria at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency. The current report
could have been ill-conceived to frustrate the on-going US-Nigerian
anti-terrorism cooperation. It could then be posited that the aim of AI in
Nigeria is to cripple the country’s security apparatus through cheap blackmail
in order to hold back necessary collaboration.
The AFN has both constitutional
and moral responsibility to protect Nigerian Citizens and cannot suddenly
engage in mass murder as portrayed by AI. The AI reports are at variance with
and do not reconcile the information we are collecting from the field on daily
basis making these sources suspect.
This is to inform the Nigerian
public and the International Community that the AFN exhibit professionalism in
its operations. Therefore, it is not proper an organization in the class of AI
to incite the Nigerian public and the international community against them.
Currently, the AFN is bringing sanity to security challenges in the North East
and other parts of country.
The Nigerian Military does not in
any way condone indiscipline or breach of set regulations, let alone want on
killing of citizens or destruction of property. It is worthy to note that, the
AFN regularly collaborate with the International Committee of Red Cross on
training of personnel on laws of armed conflict and International humanitarian
law. Troops of the AFN are guided by Rules of engagement and Standing
Operational Procedures which are explicit on how to conduct operations.
It is also worthy to note that,
since 2015 the military high command have introduced training of troops in
Human Rights and Laws of Armed Conflict. These are compulsory courses in all
AFN institutions which are yielding with positive results. The AI is therefore
requested to liaise with the Defence Headquarters for clarification on any
matter regarding military operations before putting up inaccurate reports.
Such reports are also capable of
hurting the reputation of AI itself which would not be the best for the society
in terms of accountability. The Nigerian public and international communities
are hereby requested to disregard the current Amnesty report, keep faith and
confidence in the AFN.”
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