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Military to Amnesty International: Provide Evidence of Civilian Deaths
The Defence Headquarters has debunked the allegations levelled against it by Amnesty International, calling on the organization to provide evidence to substantiate its claims of widespread civilian deaths in military detention facilities.
The response came in a statement released by Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, following a press conference held by Amnesty International on December 5.
Buba said during the press conference, Amnesty International alleged that since the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria, over 10,000 civilians have died in military custody.
The allegations also included unspecified claims of misconduct by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Major General Buba described the allegations as “shocking, lacking in merit, and mischievous,” particularly given the progress made in combating terrorism in the region.
“The Nigerian military is a professional force conducting operations within the dictates of international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflict,” the statement emphasized.
The military outlined steps taken to minimize civilian casualties and uphold justice, including adherence to strict rules of engagement, profiling of suspects, and the handover of detainees to relevant agencies for further action.
Additionally, the military highlighted the presence of standing court martials within operational theaters to deter unethical conduct by personnel.
“The operational environment has been complex and challenging, yet our troops have painstakingly abided by rules of engagement to avoid civilian casualties in any form,” the statement read.
“Under the leadership of General Christopher Musa, the armed forces remain professional in fulfilling their constitutional mandate in line with global best practices.”
Buba invited Amnesty International to provide detailed evidence supporting their claims. “This will enable the military to conduct an inquiry to determine the authenticity or otherwise of these allegations,” the statement said.
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