From: Molly Kilete. Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Wednesday, described the report by Amnesty International accusing the military of killing 417, innocents Nigerians as another “spurious fabrications”, aimed at tarnishing the good image of the Nigerian military.
AI, had in its recent report accused the Nigerian armed forces for killing 240 people including babies in Borno and another 177, pro Biafran agitators, in the south east part of the country.
Director, Defence Information, Brigadier-General Abubakar Rabe, who made this known, in Abuja, said the report which has no iota of truth, but was orchestrated to blackmail and ridicule the Nigerian Armed Forces which Amnesty International have unsuccessfully tried to do in the past.
Rabe, in a statement, said the “Nigerian military rejects this AI reports in its entirety and appeals to all well meaning Nigerians to disregard the report and discountenance its contents as they were meant to paint Nigeria in bad light.
The Defence spokesman while reassuring Nigerians of the commitment and determination of the armed forces to end the myriads of insecurity facing the country, mindless of unfounded reports and cheap blackmail, said
“It is on record that Amnesty International embarked on such series of false allegations against the Nigerian military and other security forces as far back as the inception of the military action against terrorists in the North East.
He said “Amnesty International would only encourage activities of non-state actors who take up arms against the state, killing, maiming and destroying public property but would always accuse security forces who are sacrificing everything to restore peace and normalcy.”
Rabe, in the statement sent to Daily Sun, in Abuja, said “In as much as the Nigerian military acknowledges and respects the views and constructive criticism of individuals, groups or even international organisations including Amnesty International, it will not fall for nor accept the deliberate falsehood that have no bearing with the fact or reality on ground.
“The truth is that the Nigerian military has always been open in its operations and do not hide its activities from the probing eye of the public. Amnesty International chose to bandy fabricated reports and concocted stories instead of seeking clarifications from the relevant authorities. The Defence Headquarters run an open door policy in terms of information on
“its activities in the north east or elsewhere and is ever ready to provide clarifications on any issue. On a number of times the National Human Rights Commission had sent its delegation to seek clarification on issues they are not comfortable with, and in each occasion, the DHQ always oblige them with the information they sought. AI would rather contrive their report to suit their intention which is to cast slur on the image and integrity of the Nigerian military. It smacks of mischief for the AI to insist on publishing unverified and unsubstantiated report as it is only them that knows why it embark on such dishonourable venture over a period of time”.