By Umar Faruk
Nigeria's military high command has invited Amnesty International to defend its allegations that 10,000 civilians died in military custody. The military described the claims as "malicious, shocking, lacking in merit as well as mischievous".
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba, the military operates professionally and follows standard procedures in handling matters related to civilian arrests. Buba emphasized that the military would not engage in a war of words with Amnesty International but instead invited the organization to provide evidence to support its claims.
Amnesty International had accused the military of sending 10,000 civilians to their deaths while in detention, during a press briefing in Maiduguri on Thursday. The military, however, maintains that it conducts its operations within the dictates of international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflicts.
The military's statement read in part: "The armed forces views the pronouncements by Amnesty International as shocking, lacking in merit as well as mischievous... The Nigerian military is a professional force which conducts its operations within the dictates of international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflicts".
The military also emphasized that it has standing court-martials in place to ensure justice is administered promptly to any personnel found guilty of misconduct during operations. The military's invitation to Amnesty International is aimed at determining the authenticity of the allegations and conducting a thorough inquiry.
Tags
Security page