The Nigerian Army has called for the closure of the Amnesty International (AI) offices in Nigeria, alleging there is credible evidence the organisation is working hard to destabilise the country.
This was said in a statement on Monday by the Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, which reads that the organisation’s attempt to destabilise the nation was noted through the fabrication of fictitious allegations of alleged human rights abuses against the Nigerian security forces.
Usman also alleged the AI had engaged in clandestine sponsorship of dissident groups to protest, as well as unfounded allegations against the leadership of the Nigerian military.
The statement reads:
The Nigerian branch of Amnesty International that has hitherto been well respected has deviated from the core values, principles and objectives of the original Amnesty International domiciled in the United Kingdom. There is credible information that the Nigerian branch of the International Non-governmental Organisation is determined to destabilise the Nigerian nation.
This is noted through fabrication of fictitious allegations of alleged human rights abuses against the Nigerian security forces and clandestine sponsorship of dissedent groups to protest, as well as unfounded allegations against the leadership of the Nigerian military. They have tried over the years using Boko Haram terrorists conflicts, Islamic Movement in Nigeria, some activists and now herders-farmers conflicts.
The NGO is at the verge of releasing yet another concocted report against the military, ostensibly against the Nigerian Army. Consequently, Nigerians should be wary of Amnesty International (Nigeria) because it’s goals are to destabilise Nigeria and to dismember it.
The Nigerian Army has no option than to call for the closure of Amnesty International offices in Nigeria, if such recklessness continues.
AI had said that Nigerian authorities’ failure to investigate communal clashes and bring perpetrators to justice has fuelled a bloody escalation in the conflict between farmers and herders across the country. The conflict has resulted in at least 3,641 deaths in the past three years and the displacement of thousands more, the report stated.
In the report titled, “Harvest of Death: Three Years of Bloody Clashes Between Farmers and Herders”, Amnesty International found that 57 percent of the 3,641 recorded deaths occurred in 2018.
“The Nigerian government has displayed what can only be described as gross incompetence and has failed in its duty to protect the lives of its population and end the intensifying conflict between herders and farmers. The authorities’ lethargy has allowed impunity to flourish and the killings to spread to many parts of the country, inflicting greater suffering on communities who already live in constant fear of the next attack,” said Director of AI Nigeria, Osai Ojigho.
Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram
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