BEVERLY HILLS, February 28, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Military has sounded a strong warning to all international non-governmental organisations, NGOs, operating in the country, particularl, Amnesty International, AI, and its affiliates, to steer clear of security issues for the sake of national interest, cohesion and unity.
Issuing this warning in a statement signed by its Director of Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, condemned the activities of AI, asserting that the group did not mean well for the country.
Barely a week ago, AI had stated that about 150 pro-Biafra protesters have been killed in the south-east by Nigeria’s security operatives, adding that many protesters were still being held incommunicado.
It accused the military of leading other security agencies to carry out on a chilling campaign of arbitrary arrests, extra-judicial executions and enforced disappearances of Biafra activists.
The human rights group had last November published an investigation which showed that Nigerian security forces, led by the military, embarked on a chilling campaign of extrajudicial executions resulting in the deaths of at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters in the south east of the country.
Reacting in the statement, Abubakar said the “activities of the AI in our nation have shown that it never meant well for Nigeria and the situation is getting clearer to national and international communities what AI is up to. This could be corroborated by inherent lopsidedness in the AI’s portrayal of Nigeria, its involvement in local politics and taking side with terrorists and other belligerent groups to cause internal disorder, which no country can tolerate.
“The military has maintained open door policy and has been cooperating with all stakeholders in ensuring that Nigerian Armed Forces remains one of the best and a proud institution for all Nigerians.
“For AI to be making spurious allegations, especially without substantiated and cogent reason, apart from those adduced by the organisation for the reason best known to it and its collaborators, is disturbing and unethical of an international organisation that is supposed to steer clear of local politics and to be seen as maintaining neutrality in its reportage of the countries where it operates.”
The statement condemned what it described as incessant negative report on Nigeria in general and the armed forces, in particular, by the rights group and called on all well meaning Nigerians who appreciate what the military and other security agencies have done to decimate Boko Haram terrorists and contain other criminal elements.
The Defence spokesman further claimed that the AI’s had only succeeded in giving an insight to the possibility of the organisation sponsoring various criminal gangs in our country with a view to achieving the sponsor’s intent.
He however pointed out that the military welcomes comments, criticisms and observations that could help the institution grow higher in the interest of the nation.
The statement described AI as an agent of destabilisation, masquerading as a reputable international NGO and urged Nigerians “to rise up to this daunting challenge of not giving AI the chance to truncate our hard earned democracy and unity.”
Reaffirming the commitment of the military and other security agencies to their responsibilities, Abubakar said they remain focused in tackling the security problems in the nation and urged Nigerians, partners and international communities to continue to support its quest to free the country from the hands of criminal elements.
