Army Chief of Staff condemns Amnesty International report on human rights violation

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, told newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday that the methodology used by the International Human Rights Group was faulty.

Represented by the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen Bitrus Kwaji, he described the report as unbalanced and highly subjective in favour of the aspirations of Boko Haram.

He said that the military was never contacted or consulted when the Amnesty International was gathering information and conducting interviews from members of the sect from which they concluded their report.

Amnesty International last week in a report entitled: ``Nigeria: Trapped in the Circle of Violence’’,  highlighted the nation’s security challenges, oil spills and demolition of houses.

``The serious human rights violations carried out by the security forces include; enforced disappearance, torture, extrajudicial executions, the torching of homes and detention without trial,’’ the report said.

Ihejirika, however, debunked such allegations as biased and ill-conceived with the intention of rubbishing the efforts which the military had been making to restore peace, protect lives and properties, law and order.

According to him, I am happy to observe that Amnesty International recognised that all the acts of Boko Haram are against Nigerian laws.

``They also recognised the fact that Boko Haram attacks were against civilians, this was a  crime against humanity.

``We, however, disagreed with the mythology used to get the reports which did not give the military fair hearing.

``In their report regarding the methodology used, it admitted it spoke with affected members of the public in Borno, Bauchi, Kano and Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

``The Amnesty International also read newspaper reports and statements from Boko Haram.

``No where did they state that they got in touch with us. They never made any effort to reach us. We have our modes of operation, which were being complied with by our officers.

``There have not been any reports of violation or our officers going outside their  rules of engagement," he noted.

He said, ``we want to say that we have not been contacted by Amnesty International on any act of high-handedness by our soldiers, of which their commander is a battle tested professional.’’

He emphasised that the Amnesty International should have felt the pulse of the military.

The Army Chief said that  Amnesty International report was skewed in favour of Boko Haram, not taking into cognisance of military efforts to ensure peace and security of law abiding citizens.

He debunked the allegations that JTF was in anyway involved in the killing of the civil war hero, Gen. Mohammed Shuwa.

Ihejirika said, ``such allegations casts doubt on military patriotism and that they (JTF) cannot kill one of their own.

               
NAVY GEARS UP TO TACKLE BUNKERING IN NIGER DELTA
                
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Dele Ezeoba, says the Nigerian Navy will commence a one week exercise aimed at tackling the illegal oil bunkers in the Niger Delta.

Ezeoba, who made this known  in Ikot Abasi on Tuesday during  on a one-day tour of NNS Jubilee, said that the exercise will commence on Nov. 12 and end on Nov. 18,  

``The Chief of Naval Staff has come up with an exercise that will commence on N0v. 12 and end on  Nov. 18.  It will be fleets evaluation exercise to look at the fleets.

``In that exercise, being a one week exercise, all of us will be at the fleets to check different sectors from Escravos to Bonny area to look at how we can tackle the challenges of illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta,“ he said.

The chief of naval staff said that the Nigerian Navy had always remained ready to use its patrol team to check the activities of illegal bunkers that were prevalent in the Niger Delta.

According to him, at any moment, the Nigerian Navy has vessels patrolling to make sure that they check stealing  of petroleum products that come out from the creeks.

Ezeoba also said that as the new Chief of Naval Staff, he was on a familarisation tour of his command, so that he would get used to the situation on ground before he settles down to contend with the challenges of the office.

He assured  the Akwa Ibom people of adequate security from the Navy, saying that ``even if we may not have 100 per cent security, the Nigerian Navy will continue to do its best so that a good security atmosphere is provided for the state. “

The naval boss expressed appreciation with the relationship existing between the naval command and the state, pledging to sustain it.