Anger Mounts over AI’s Report Berating the Military But Silent on Boko Haram’s Atrocities

For the umpteenth time since the prosecution of the war against terrorism in the North-east began, Amnesty International (AI) has accused the Nigerian Armed Forces of human rights abuses and war crimes in the region.

But the organisation’s latest assessment of the military has not gone down well with Nigerians, as radio shows and commentators on the social media took AI to task yesterday, demanding to know why it was in the habit of condemning the military which has been trying to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria from the marauding antics of Boko Haram, while completely ignoring the unspeakable human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by the terror group.

The feelings of several Nigerians were reinforced by the military, which also dismissed the accusations by AI, calling them a witch-hunt and a deliberate attempt to tarnish its image.

In a statement yesterday, AI called for the investigation of the Nigerian military, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, and the current Chief of Army Staff Lt-Genral Kenneth Minimah, among other senior military commanders, for allegedly participating in sanctioning or failing to prevent the deaths of more than 8,000 people murdered, starved, suffocated or tortured to death.

Based on years of research and analysis of evidence – including leaked military reports and correspondence, as well as interviews with more than 400 victims, eyewitnesses and senior members of the Nigerian security forces – the international organisation said it outlined a range of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed by the Nigerian military in the course of the fight against Boko Haram in the North-east of the country.
Amnesty’s allegations were contained in areport, “Stars on their shoulders. Blood on their hands: War Crimes Committed by the Nigerian Military”, released yesterday.

The report revealed that since March 2011, more than 7,000 young men and boys died in military detention and more than 1,200 people were unlawfully killed since February 2012.
AI claimed it provided “compelling evidence” of the need for an investigation into the individual and command responsibilities of soldiers, and mid-level and senior-level military commanders.

The report outlined the roles and possible criminal responsibilities of those along the chain of command - up to the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff - and named four senior Nigerian military figures who should be investigated for command and individual responsibility for the crimes committed by their subordinates.

“They would be responsible if they knew or if they should have known about the commission of the war crimes and failed to take adequate action to prevent them or to ensure the alleged perpetrators are brought to justice,” it said.
They are Lt-General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), Chief of Army Staff, Sept 2010 - Jan 2014); Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim (rtd), Chief of Defence Staff, Oct 2012 - Jan 2014); Air Chief Marshal Badeh, Chief of Defence Staff, Jan 2014 - time of writing; and Lt-General Ken Minimah, Chief of Army Staff, Jan 2014 - time of writing.

Salil Shetty, AI’s Secretary General, said the “sickening evidence” it has “exposes how thousands of young men and boys have been arbitrarily arrested and deliberately killed or left to die in detention in the most horrific conditions.
“It provides strong grounds for investigations into the possible criminal responsibility of members of the military, including those at the highest levels”. 

Shetty continued: “Whilst an urgent and impartial investigation of these war crimes is vital, this report is not just about the criminal responsibility of individuals. It is also about the responsibility of Nigeria’s leadership to act decisively to end the pervasive culture of impunity within the armed forces.”

Accordingly, AI called on the federal FG to ensure prompt, independent and effective investigations of the following military officers for potential individual or command responsibility for the war crimes of murder, torture and enforced disappearance detailed in this report: Major-General John A.H. Ewansiha; Major-General Obida T Ethnan; Major-General Ahmadu Mohammed; Brigadier-General Austin O. Edokpayi; and Brigadier-General Rufus O. Bamigboye

The report which was segmented into various human right violations purportedly committed by the Nigerian military, focused on mass deaths in custody; starvation, dehydration and disease; overcrowding and suffocation; fumigation; torture; and extrajudicial executions.
AI further alleged that the highest levels of Nigeria’s military command, including the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff, were regularly informed of operations conducted in North-east Nigeria.

“Evidence shows that senior military leaders knew, or should have known, about the nature and scale of the crimes being committed. Internal military documents show that they were updated on the high rates of deaths among detainees through daily field reports, letters and assessment reports sent by field commanders to Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and Army Headquarters,” the report said.
AI claimed it saw numerous requests and reminders sent from commanders in the field to DHQ warning of the rise in the number of deaths in custody, the dangers of fumigation and requesting a transfer of detainees.

“In addition, reports by teams sent by DHQ to assess military facilities and ‘authenticate data’, highlight death rates and warn that overcrowding was causing serious health problems and could lead to ‘an epidemic’.”
The body said it verified this knowledge and failure to act from a number of sources, including interviews with senior military officers.
Quoting an unnamed military source, AI said: “People at the top saw it but refused to do anything about it.”
It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to end the culture of impunity that has blighted Nigeria, and for the African Union and international community to encourage and support these efforts.

“As a matter of urgency, the president must launch an immediate and impartial investigation into the crimes detailed in Amnesty International’s report and hold all those responsible to account, no matter their rank or position. Only then can there be justice for the dead and their relatives,” it said.
However, DHQ yesterday condemned the gruesome allegations AI made against its retired and serving senior military personnel and the Armed Forces in general, describing its as blackmail.

In a statement by the Director Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, the military said: “The Defence Headquarters has noted with dismay the gruesome allegations made by Amnesty International against some senior military officers serving and retired of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“It is unfortunate that all efforts made in the allegations were geared towards the continuation of blackmail against the military hierarchy in which the organisation had embarked upon as far back as the inception of military’s action against the terrorists in the North-east.

“The officers mentioned in the report have no reason, whatsoever, to indulge in the allegations made against them. It is unfortunate that the organisation just went out to gather names of specified senior officers, in a calculated attempt to rubbish their reputation as well as the image of the military.

“The action, no doubt, depicts more of a premeditated indictment aimed at discrediting the country for whatever purpose.”
DHQ stated that each of the previous allegations had been thoroughly responded to and cleared in the public and officially, adding that the title of the report down to the body of allegations smacked of the extreme bias, “which is disturbing coming from an otherwise reputable organisation that is expected to be ‘just and fair’ to all”. 

“Unfortunately in this case, Amnesty International has taken a premeditated position, which is far from noble. It is curious that a body that has never been able to seriously condemn terror in Nigeria now claims to have done an extensive research with the aim of discrediting the nation’s effort at curtailing terror.
“It is clear that Amnesty International becomes more active in presenting distractive allegations whenever the terrorists are losing grounds in the battle. 

“It is very unfortunate that Amnesty International has used this report to further confirm its questionable interest in the counter-terrorism effort in Nigeria,” DHQ said.
It futher recalled that a Joint Investigation Team was set up by DHQ as part of efforts to ensure that no detainee suffered unjustly, noting that the detention facilities were thrown open for visits and inspections by independent bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and other reputable international organisations and personalities.

It advised AI to stop playing the role of an “irritant coming up loudly only when the terrorists are losing, and remaining silent or complacent whenever the terrorist heightens its atrocities”.
DHQ said it was unfair for the body to persist in efforts to discredit the Nigerian military by seeking all avenues to stigmatise individual officers of the nation’s military purely to satisfy an agenda against the security agencies and image of Nigeria before the international community.

“The Nigerian Armed Forces is quite conscious of the fact that the operation in the North-east has prompted the need to save citizens from abuse of their rights by mindless terrorists.
“Accordingly, the forces have continued to state and restate its commitment to the rights of Nigerians and all its citizens while prosecuting its anti-terrorism campaign.
“It is very unfortunate that Amnesty International has chosen to ignore all the responses and clarifications provided to its enquires by the authorities.

“It is unfair to rely on records or reports provided by certain disgruntled elements or faceless collaborators who have an axe to grind with the system as evidence against officers who have been conscientiously doing their duty to defend the nation and her citizens.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian military does not encourage or condone abuse of human rights neither will any proven case be left unpunished.
“The kind of impunity being alleged by Amnesty International has no place in the Nigerian military. Every officer in the field is responsible for his action and is duly held accountable. So far, no allegation has been sufficiently proved against those whom Amnesty International is so desperate to convict,” DHQ added.

It dismissed AI’s statistics as largely spurious or manipulated to satisfy a clandestine motive, adding, “Indeed, the loud publicity given to these damning allegations suggests an intention to blackmail the military and particular senior officers rather than a sincere advise to the government. This cruel tendency is not new, despite the timing.”
It said the Nigerian military therefore rejects the biased and concocted report provided by AI, promising that an additional response will be provided subsequently as deemed necessary.

Also reacting to AI’s allegations of widespread human rights abuses by the military, the president yesterday acknowledged receipt of the report and promised to look into it.
In a statement by his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, the president said he had received the report which he acknowledged contained damning allegations.

According to Shehu, Buhari assured AI that his administration would study the document and act appropriately.
“I assure you that your report will be looked into,” Buhari said.
Without meaning to prejudice the outcome of any investigation, the president reassured the organisation that “this administration will leave no stone unturned to promote the rule of law, and deal with all cases of human rights abuses.
“Respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law are the life and soul of a democratic system. We will not tolerate or condone impunity and reckless disregard for human rights”.

Meanwhile, AI’s report coincided with yet another attack on Maiduguri where at least six persons were killed yesterday from an explosion, a civilian vigilante assisting the military against Boko Haram and a witness told AFP.
“We have so far recovered six dead bodies. We are still working at the scene, so the casualties may rise,” said Danlami Ajaokuta of the blast on the Baga Road, which happened at 5:30 pm.

Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has been a regular target for Boko Haram Islamists since the group began its insurgency six years ago and has been hit four times since last Friday.
Early on Saturday, the militants launched an attack with rocket-propelled grenades that was repelled by the military but hours later a suicide bomber killed 26 at a city mosque.

On Tuesday, there was again shelling from positions on the outskirts of the city and another suicide attack, this time at a cattle market that left at least 13 people dead.
Ajaokuta, a civilian vigilante who works in the Baga Road area, said the blast happened at a garage opposite a military unit and it appeared to have been caused by explosives left nearby.
One mechanic, who asked not to be identified, added: “I had just gone to get water when the explosion happened. I would have been among the victims.

“The garage was full with colleagues who were chatting at the time. I’m afraid we may lose many of our friends.”
The mechanic did not give a death toll. Ajaokuta said one suspect seen nearby before the blast was taken away by soldiers.