Amnesty International, greatest threat to humanity, Coalition alleges

Anti-terrorism group, the Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE), has accused international agency, Amnesty International, of being a threat to humanity, as well as Nigeria’s sovereignty.

Gabriel Onoja, the National Coordinator, addressing journalists in Jos, the Plateau State capital, said it was obvious that Amnesty International had continued to lead the psychological war on terror against the people of Nigeria, while Boko Haram and other dissident elements execute the guerrilla warfare against the people.

According to Onoja, the latest of such unfortunate war against the Nigerian people and humanity is plans by the AI to embarrass the Nigerian military with cooked up reports about cases of rape allegedly carried out by men of the armed forces at the camps of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

He accused Amnesty International, of succeeded in engaging in acts and comments that have seen it deteriorating from a group championing the cause of humanity to one that is defending criminals, criminalities, insurgency and terrorism.

Onoja wondered how the military which it said has sacrificed so much to ensure normalcy returns to Nigeria’s northeast will now be subject to such reports being released by AI.

He said: “This allegation against the Nigerian military is unfortunate because the military as an institution is one that prides itself in the strict discipline and character moulding of its men from the day they enlist to when they leave.

“We have absolute confidence in the conduct of our military particularly those deployed on special operations and find it strange to come to terms with the current realities that Amnesty International has become another Army Against our troops.

“It is public knowledge that no institution is responsive to reports of bad behavior, misconduct and other forms of indiscipline like the military.

“That is why within any military setting, you will find the full compliment for ensuring compliance with rules and regulations and for punishing acts of wrong doing like the appointment of provosts, RSMs, the building of guard rooms and the setting aside of tasking drills for punishment to erring men and officers.”

He expressed concern that the AI allegations against the country’s military is coming at a time when the terrorists have been reduced to the barest minimum.

According to him, Amnesty International may have done some good works in the past and elsewhere in the world, but it’s current intervention in Nigeria since the war against insurgency intensified leaves much to be desired.

“Who does Amnesty International protect? Who pays Amnesty International to execute these heinous briefs against our military?” he queried.

“If they’re not complaining about the number of suspects arrested, they are busy alleging acts that never existed. We are all aware that the fight against insurgency is not a tea party,” he added.

He said many innocent Nigerians including, women and children have been killed by these terrorists that even some of their initial supporters have come to realise their error and have come out, not only to condemn their actions but distanced themselves from the activities of the groups.