ICC, Amnesty, Others Behind Insecurity In Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, says some human right organisations and international court of justice (ICC) are conspiring to worsen the security challenges in the country.

Ekohotblog reports that Mohammed disclosed this at a press conference on Monday.

He said Nigeria effort to address insecurity and defeat Boko Haram and other criminal elements is being sabotaged by ICC and Amnesty International who have morphed into another ‘fighting force’.

He averred that some CSOs have colluded with the ICC to “exacerbate the challenges facing the country in the area of security.”

“Let me say straight away that Nigeria is fending off attacks on many fronts, not just from terrorists and bandits, but also from some human rights organizations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) which seem to have colluded to exacerbate the challenges facing the country in the area of security,” he said.

“While our security agencies continue to battle these bandits and terrorists, the ICC and some international human rights organizations, especially Amnesty International, have constituted themselves to another ‘fighting force’ against Nigeria, constantly harassing our security forces and threatening them with investigation and possible prosecution over alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The Minister said some local media outfit are aiding and abetting the organizations without guaging the effect of their constant threats on the security of the nation.

He noted that the federal government is infuriated by the brazen attempt to dampen the resolve of security operatives as they thwart the onslaught from bandits and terrorists.

The minister said Nigeria did not join the ICC so it could become a pawn on the court’s chessboard.

“It beggars belief to see that a nation that is fighting an existential war against bandits and terrorists is constantly being held down by an international body which it willingly joined,” Mohammed said.

“Nigeria is a sovereign state and will not surrender its sovereignty to any organization. ICC, Amnesty International and their cohorts should desist from threatening our troops and putting the security of our country in jeopardy. Enough is enough.

He bemoaned the reliance of these organisations on  “fake news and disinformation to reach their conclusions, as witnessed during the EndSARS protest when CNN – an otherwise respected global news network – went to town with fake news of a massacre.”

Mohammed dismissed the threats of civil society organisations (CSOs) who vowed to report top government officials to the ICC.

Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, is among some of the individuals who have been served with such threats.

The court, headquartered in the Hague, Netherlands, tries individuals charged with the crimes such as genocide or war crimes.

In December, ICC issued a preliminary determination to investigate Nigerian security forces over allegations of “crimes against humanity” and “war crimes”.