By FOLUSHO ALADE, ABUJA
… The report is clear desperation targeted at blackmailing the Nigerian Military–DMO
The Defence Headquarters Abuja has described as baseless and devoid of global best practices a recent report by amnesty International titled “Nigerian Military Crimes”.
In a press release made available on Wednesday by the Defence Media Operations (DMO) of the Defence Headquarters, the Armed Forces said in as much as the Nigerian Military do not wish to join issues, it is imperative to clear the air and set the records straight.
The Statement signed by MAJ GEN JOHN ENENCHE, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations said the Amnesty International report is not a true picture of the activities of the Armed Forces in various theatres of operation across the country especially in Borno State and a distortion of facts.
ENENCHE said Amnesty International accusations that soldiers killed older people among others who were trying to flee from their homes is totally baseless as the military is guided by extant regulations and Rules of Engagement.
According to him the research purportedly conducted by Amnesty International does not meet the universal academic or global best practice criteria, therefore may not be credible.
While urging the members of the public to discountenance the report, ENENCHE said Nigerians should be assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will not be deterred in the fight to rid the country of terrorists and criminals in the country despite the allegations.
The full Statement made available to Defence correspondents said:
“ The attention of the Nigerian Military has been drawn to the recent report released by Amnesty International (AI) in its chapter 3 as “Nigerian Military Crimes”. In as much as the Nigerian Military do not wish to join issues, it is imperative to clarify the air. In the first place, the so-called research does not meet the universal academic or global best practice criteria, of having the justifiable percentage of sample in the population, claimed to have been investigated and thus may not be credible.
“For the entire so called research, the question is, to whom is the loyalty of the respondents selected by AI; Boko Haram or peace loving Borno citizens? However, it is desirable in the interest of the general public to bring out some contradictions in the report that tends to criminalize the Nigerian Military which is not true.
“On page 34 of the report it stated;“AI interviewed only a few older people who had fled Boko Haram areas during 2020, so was unable to determine if there had been changes in the military’s behavior over the last year”. Note; the inability of AI to determine the military’s behavior. Additionally, in the said report, the AI claimed that soldiers killed older people, among others who were trying to flee from their homes. This accusation is also baseless as the military is guided by extant regulations and Rules of Engagement.
“AI also admits on page 36 of their report that “during previous Amnesty International research, some former detainees, including children, admitted openly that they had been in the armed group – sometimes through recruitment and other times through abduction. AI cannot rule out that older people interviewed for this report at times supported Boko Haram”.This is to buttress the fact that the military will and cannot detain civilians unlawfully.
“Additionally, AI stated that “In recent years, soldiers and CJTF members involved in ‘screening” have sent fewer older people, among other groups to detention.
“This report also states that “Conditions have improved in recent years, especially as the Red Cross received more access to some military detention facilities, including GIWA”. Furthermore, the report stated that, “ In recent years, soldiers have increasingly refrained from detaining older people fleeing Boko Haram controlled areas”.
“These among several others in the report are obvious contradictions to the portrayal of the Nigerian Military by AI. As such, it is a deliberate attempt to discredit the Nigerian Military in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North East which should be resisted.
“ Nigerians should be assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will not be deterred in the fight to rid the country of terrorists and criminals in the country despite the allegations. The report is clear desperation targeted at blackmailing the Nigerian military. Thus, the report should be discountenanced”. The statement concluded.
