Nigerian Army raises alarm over plan by Amnesty International to publish false report
- The Amnesty International is reportedly planning to publish some reports against the army
- It was reported that the army is accused of rape against IDP members
- Several groups have condemned the international organisation's plan
The Nigerian Army has raised alarm over plans by Amnesty International to publish damaging reports about it.
This is also as several groups have accused the international body of plotting to destabilise the country.
In a statement by Johm Agim who is the acting director, defence information, the army promised to abide by human rights regulations. It accused AI of planning to publish alleged cases of rape in IDP camps.
Read the statement below:
"The Nigerian Military has received credible intelligence report of a plan by Amnesty International (AI) to release a false report on fictitious rape incidents in IDP camps in the North East region of Nigeria. This malicious trend by AI is becoming a frequent ritual and it is rather unfortunate. In times like this, Amnesty International is expected to apply the natural law of liaison by working with security agencies as partners.
This would have been the best way to ensure that insurgency and crisis is completely wiped off rather than engaging in falsehood, maligning the military and painting her in bad light at any slight opportunity.
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The Nigerian Military wishes to use this medium to reiterate her commitment to the citizens of our dear nation, that it will abide by all Human Rights Regulations as entered into by Nigeria and also go the extra mile in ensuring that the territorial integrity of our nation is well protected.
However, the Nigerian Military admonishes AI to desist from cooking reports from time to time to demoralize the entire military system and the nation as a whole whose troops are sacrificing their lives in the fight against Boko Haram and other enemies of the country. These false reports which are capable of derailing the good work being done by our patriotic and selfless soldiers must stop.
Kindly note that we are not in any way implying that AI should not do their job, but such must be done with a level of integrity and credibility by seeking clarification when the need arises. This way a lot will be achieved as both will form partners in the fight against extremism and other vices.
The Defence Headquarters therefore, urge all law abiding citizens to continue to trust and support the military in the ongoing war against Boko Haram and go about their normal lawful business."
Similarly, the Progressives Yoruba Youth Congress in a statement accused AI of planning to create tension in the country with its fictitious report. Comrade Akintola Festus, national leader of the group, accused the group of working with divisive elements in the country to create disorder.
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Part of the statement read: “We believe we are aware of the difficulties experienced in the past administration in checkmating terrorism, especially Boko Haram, IPOB and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has reached alarming proportion for all Nigerians to be concerned.
"The manifest cruelty and appetite for bloodletting in atrocious acts and heinous crimes against Nigerians by these sects is legendary. And we know the sects are ennobled by the sponsorship, funding, and backing of foreign forces bent on foisting evil on our land to destabilize our country.
“We are persuaded to draw the attention of World bodies like the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and the Federal Government in Nigeria about some twists and ugly developments concerning winning streaks of Nigerian military against Boko Haram terrorists.
“We strongly suspected sustained and covert actions and activities of terrorists agents, particularly, some international organizations’ domiciled in Nigeria who are discreetly working day and night to promote the scourge of terrorism on Nigeria.
“AI’s periodic reports are usually based on unsubstantiated allegations and falsehood, alluding to rights violations perpetrated by the Nigerian military and sister security agencies. The reports are primed to limitlessly and baselessly indict the military; while emboldening the terrorists in their suspected sponsored assignment to destroy and delete Nigeria from the map of the world.
“We are mincing no words to assert that no external force can govern us; we must govern ourselves and the rude disrespect by AI to testify before lawfully constituted Probe Panels is an undisguised affront on the powers and sovereignty of Nigeria.”
Also, activities at the Abuja office of Amnesty International was temporarily brought to a halt as over 1000 protesters on Wednesday, May 23, stormed the office to protest what they described as ‘plot to destabilise Nigeria.’
The angry protesters claimed that the international body had concluded plans to release a report, which would attempt accuse the government troops and civilian JTF currently fighting the Boko Haram terrorists in the north east, of routinely detaining, raping, starving and kill women as well as minors.
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This development came barely one week after the Nigerian Army panel of inquiry exonerated the military of colliding with terrorists in the country.
Addressing the protest, Comrade Danesi Momoh, the national convener of the Civil Rights Groups, organiser of the protest, described the yet-to-be-released report as not only false but maliciously targeted at creating tension and unsettling the nation.
He said Wednesday's protest march was merely a rehearsal, insisting that the International agency must quit Nigeria if it fails to stop such false information.
Meanwhile, the Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN) rejected the “no guilty” verdict of the Gen. John Nimyel’s panel, which investigated former chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma’s allegations of criminal acts of collusion by the army in the killings of innocent people in the state.
Daily Trust reports JDAN national president, chief Bako Benjaminin, who made this known in Lagos said the panel's report, falls far short of expectations and can at best be described as a shoddy job fit for the waste bin.
Benjaminin lamented that rather than give hope of justice, to the families of the innocent farmers and other villagers hacked down by the herdsmen, the army merely engaged in "empty rhetoric" of setting up of panels to cleanse itself of wrong doings.
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