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Nigeria’s Military Rejects Amnesty International’s 10,000 Civilian Deaths Allegation
The Defence Headquarters has dismissed claims by Amnesty International that 10, 000 persons died in its custody since the Boko Haram conflict began in the northeast.
EKO HOT BLOG recalls that the Country Director of the international human rights, Isa Sanusi, at a briefing in Maiduguri, accused Boko Haram and the military of many abuses.
Sanusi said military personnel violated rules of engagement while carrying out their assignments in the region.
He regretted how the military denied the involvement of its personnel in atrocity after being served with Amnesty’s report before it was made public.
Sanusi announced that the human rights body had already filed a case before the International Court of Justice, ICJ, at the Hague over alleged crimes against humanity in the North-east.
“Attacks on schools, teachers and students, including their abduction, have been committed so as to prevent people, especially children, from receiving what Boko Haram considers a ‘Western’ education.
“Boko Haram is generally translated from Hausa as ‘Western education is forbidden. Boko Haram has committed war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, including murder; attacks on civilians and civilian objects; indiscriminate attacks; disproportionate attacks; torture; cruel treatment; conscription (including through abductions) and use of child soldiers under the age of 15; attacks on buildings dedicated to education,” the report said.
Responding, the Defence Headquarters in a statement by Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba on Friday, described Amnesty’s allegations as spurious, shocking and lacking in merit.
The DHQ also invited the organisation over to its office to substantiate its allegations.
“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to some spurious allegations made by Amnesty International during a press conference held on 5 December 24. It was alleged that, since the onset of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East of Nigeria over ten thousand civilians died in Nigerian Military detention facilities among other spurious allegations.
“The armed forces views the pronouncements by Amnesty International as shocking, lacking in merit as well as mischievous, particularly as it coming at this ending cycle stage of the counter terrorism war in the Northeast.
“Though the Armed Forces is not willing to join words with Amnesty International, it is of utmost necessity to set the records straight. The Nigerian military is a professional forces which conducts its operations within the dictates of international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflicts,” DHQ said.
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