ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Nigerian Army has debunked the latest accusation by Amnesty International (AI) that the Nigerian Army and Federal Government have failed to investigate various allegations of human rights violations in the country.
AI on Monday accused the Nigerian government of failing to conduct an effective, impartial and independent investigation into the killings of 640 recaptured detainees allegedly slaughtered by soldiers of the Nigerian Army two years ago.
However, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (CCMA), Maj-Gen. Rogas Nicholas, in response to inquiries, denied the allegations, saying that the issue was investigated extensively by the Nigerian Military.
Nicholas said that Nigerian Army investigations revealed that most of the peopled who died during the Giwa Barracks attack were killed by Boko Haram Terrorists during their daring attempt to free the detainees on March 14, 2014.
According to him, the BHT having overrun the detention facilities, separated their members and killed those who “they felt were either not part of them or not willing to follow them again.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“There was nothing like that (AI’s allegation) as it was Boko Haram terrorists that killed these people. This is because when they overran the place, there was no military presence there. So they took their people and killed those they claim are not their members, who refused and could not go with them.
“It was, therefore, Boko Haram that took their own people as there was no military presence then, and killed those they felt were not part of them. We have carried out investigation into this and communicated back to the AI. That is the truth and there is therefore, no basis for their allegations,” he explained.
Nicholas recalled that the AI delegation led by the director, research/advocacy, Mr. Netsanet Belay, had last month met the Nigerian Army authorities where the issue was resolved.
He said that the documents presented by the Nigerian Army during the meeting clearly explained the extensive investigation carried out, which showed that it was rather Boko Haram that perpetrated the dastardly act.
Sundiata Post had last month after the meeting with the AI team at the Army Headquarters (AHQ), Abuja sighted a copy of the document submitted by the Army detailing their investigations into the various cases of human rights allegations in the North East including the Giwa Barracks attack.
Part of the document read: “Another case of extrajudicial killings by the Nigerian Military was described by the AI as one of the most horrific mass extrajudicial executions by the military happened on March 14, 2014 in Maiduguri. This was in the aftermath of a Boko Haram attack on the military detention facilities at Giwa Barracks during which the detainees were released, the military killed at least 640 men and boys most of them recaptured detainees.
“Suffice it to say that the allegations described as one of the most horrific mass extrajudicial executions by the military was promptly investigated by the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police and those found culpable for dereliction of duty that paved way for the BHT attack into the detention facility were tried by a General Court Martial and even sentenced to various prison terms. Some of the cases involving human rights violations by the NA personnel investigated and currently under investigation are hereby enclosed”.
Speaking on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other related allegations of killings, Nicholas noted that the Army has been in strict adherence to the Rules of Engagement (ROE).
“So it’s is not the Nigerian Army that will just start killing people as was alleged. We know that all over the country, people have been doing protests peacefully and right now as I speak to you, there is ongoing protests in Ogoni, and nobody has been killed.
“But when you go contrary to the rules, confronting the military and security agencies who are bound to defend themselves, some of these issues may arise. However, the truth is that the Army does not and has never killed peaceful protesters,” he stated.
However, the Nigerian Army was silent about the whereabouts of Col. Nicholas Ashinze, the military aide to Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), former National Security Adviser (NSA). Ashinze has been in detention since December 23, 2015.
An Abuja High Court sitting at Jabi had on Monday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigerian Army, to forthwith, release Ashinze.
Justice Yusuf Haliru, in a judgement directed the EFCC and Army to immediately release the applicant on self-recognition, saying his detention for over three months without trial, was “illegal, wrongful, unlawful and constituted a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of the applicant”.
However various efforts to get the Army to officially respond on the matter and to confirm if they have complied with the court directive proved abortive as both the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman and Director of Public Relations, AHQ Garrison, Col. Aliyu Yusuf, refused to speak on the matter.
But as at the time of this report, the senior officer who is being detained at the AHQ Garrison is yet to be released, while unconfirmed information from the Army revealed that their legal team are putting up a response.
“The legal team are putting up a response on that and you will be communicated on the development,” a senior officer said.
