In Defence Of Amnesty International

There has been outcry in the Nigerian establishment and their media wing since the release of Amnesty International Report 2016/2017, which detailed human rights violations by the Nigerian state in general and the military and other security agencies in particular. But Amnesty International Report 2016/2017 is not only about Nigeria, which makes it preposterous the suggestion that Amnesty International Report was aimed at undermining Nigeria’s security by weakening the hands of the military in the insurgency war and elsewhere in the country.

For crying out loud the 2016/2017 Report documented the state of human rights violations in 159 countries during 2016, including the United States.

The report on Nigeria showed how the military is allegedly violating the rights of Nigerians in the North East as it goes in pursuit of Boko Haram terrorists waging insurgency war against the state in that part of the country. Similarly the report detailed the alleged killings of unarmed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the continuous detention without trial of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), whose members allegedly killed by the military were buried in mass grave, with nothing being done by government to unravel the perpetrators. The summary of the Report on Nigeria stated: “The conflict between the military and the armed group Boko Haram continued and generated a humanitarian crisis that affected more than 14 million people. The security forces continued to commit serious human rights violations including extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances. The police and military continued to commit torture and other ill-treatment. Conditions in military detention were harsh. Communal violence occurred in many parts of the country. Thousands of people were forcibly evicted from their homes.”

It was also not true that the Report tend to condemn the military alone when it comes to human rights violations. Perhaps those who hold this view in the military and elsewhere may not have taken time to read the report in detail. The report condemned Boko Haram and accused the terrorist group of perpetrating crimes against humanity. This is what Amnesty International Report said about Boko Haram, “Boko Haram continued to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity in the northeast, affecting 14.8 million people. The group continued to carry out attacks and small-scale raids throughout the year. The national and regional armed forces recaptured major towns from Boko Haram’s control.

In its response to Boko Haram attacks, the military continued to carry out arbitrary arrests, detentions, ill-treatment and extrajudicial executions of people suspected of being Boko Haram fighters − acts which amounted to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.”

On IPOB, the Report said, “Since January, in response to the continued agitation by pro-Biafra campaigners, security forces arbitrarily arrested and killed at least 100 members and supporters of the group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Some of those arrested were subjected to enforced disappearance.
On 9 February, soldiers and police officers shot at about 200 IPOB members who had gathered for a prayer meeting at the National High School in Aba, in Abia state. Video footage showed soldiers shooting at peaceful and unarmed IPOB members; at least 17 people were killed and scores injured.
On 29 and 30 May, at least 60 people were killed in a joint security operation carried out by the army, police, Department of State Security (DSS) and navy. Pro-Biafra campaigners had gathered to celebrate Biafra Remembrance Day in Onitsha. No investigation into these killings had been initiated by the end of the year.”
The Report has been helpful whether Nigerian government wants to admit it or not. It has exposed where the security agents are getting it wrong, so that they can make amends. It is instructive that after initial denials and bad mouthing of Amnesty International over the Report the military has set up a committee to investigate the allegations contained in the report. On Wednesday the army set up a seven-member “Special Board of Inquiry’’ to probe alleged cases of human rights abuse leveled against its personnel in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
The board, inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant general, would be headed by Ahmed Jibrin, a retired major general.
Other members are Dadan Garba and Abdulqadir Gumi (both retired brigadiers general); O.L. Olayinka, a brigadier general; L.B. Mohammed and U.M. Wambai (both colonels); while C.M. Akaliro, a lieutenant colonel, would serve as secretary. The board would among other things, investigate “The Amnesty International reports, Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB), other groups and individuals allegations of human rights violations.’’
He said based on those allegations, some officers were already suffering discrimination in some quarters.
“The allegations range from extra-judicial executions, arbitrary arrests, detention, torture and enforced disappearance of suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
“These allegations are not good for civil-military relations and are capable of demoralising Nigerian army personnel in the performance of their constitutional roles.”
It is instructive that without the Amnesty International Report, Nigerian government had shown lethargy towards unraveling those behind the killings of IPOB members and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).