Military faults Amnesty International report
▪︎Says it does not meet universal academic nor global best practice criteria
The Defence Headquarters on Wednesday faulted the recent report released by Amnesty International indicting the Nigerian Military of crime against civilians in the troubled North-East region of the country.
In a statement, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche said the report did 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
“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 does 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,” Enenche said.
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, further stated that the the Amnesty International claimed that soldiers killed older people, among others who were trying to flee from their homes was also baseless as the military was 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” Enenche added.
He also said the claims that soldiers had increasingly refrained from detaining older people fleeing Boko Haram controlled areas were obvious contradictions to the portrayal of the Nigerian Military by AI and as such, it was a deliberate attempt to discredit the Nigerian Military in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North East which should be resisted.
He assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would not be deterred in the fight to rid the country of terrorists and criminals in the country despite the allegations.
He said the Amnesty International report was clear desperation targeted at blackmailing the Nigerian military and it should be discountenanced.
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