By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The International Criminal Court (ICC) and Amnesty International conspiracy against effort of Nigeria to stop insecurity inflicted on its territory, particularly the North East part, by Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) may no longer be rumour, as an ICC prosecutor announced the court was set to investigate the country for war crimes.
The DEFENDER reports that some human rights lawyers, members of opposition among religious and political groups have threatened particularly the current administration with legal action at ICC over issues that many have described as unfounded, especially when military actions against members of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Indigenous People of Biafra and Islamic Mission of Nigeria popularly called Shi’ites are presented by them as human rights violations.
The known war in Nigeria since 2009 has been the one waved against soft targets by Boko Haram terrorists. Records have it how under the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party Federal Government money meant to equip the military and police with weapons to stop the shedding of bloods of innocent Nigerians by the terrorists were shared into individual pockets of politicians.
This financial crime, described by many as evil against humanity and the nation as soldiers died because of lack of weapons to match those of terrorists they were meant to fight and deaths of thousands of innocent citizens for lack of commitment from the political class of the past government era, the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress Federal Government has tackled and is still currently prosecuting in competent courts in the country.
Ever since the Buhari-led fight against corruption and terrorism commenced, it has been one threat of ICC and another. The Amnesty International has also played roles that patriotic Nigerians at a point in time staged protests calling on the Buhari Government to ban it from operating as NGO in Nigeria.
It staged open opposition to the military operations against the agents of terrorism in the North East as it took its own space through which, as generally believed, it chose to stand, especially, against the Army operations in the region. It was so much that Amnesty International was believed by many as working for sponsors of Boko Haram, mainly within international conspiracy, by its dispositions, yet the ICC prosecutor, without deep checks of information she called enough evidence to hold Nigeria for war crimes, went ahead to issue the statement she issued.
But undaunted, the Nigerian Army says it is well on ground for challenges of any colour will come. It however boosted the morale of its troops when it said they should not be demoralised by the ICC threat and posture of AI.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sagir Musa, the Nigerian Army’s attention was drawn to the ICC prosecutor’ general’s press release on Friday 12 December 2020, alleging that she has found a reasonable basis to believe that “members of the Nigerian Security Forces (“NSF”)” have committed acts constituting crimes against humanity and war crimes.
To the chagrin of the Army, the ICC release was immediately followed by a release by the local branch of Amnesty International (AI) in Nigeria “demanding full investigation of atrocities by Nigerian forces.”
The Army said, “There is no doubt such statement and instigation can distract the Nigerian Army troops with its demoralising effects. It will have negative consequences on troops morale, interest in military service by Nigerians and severe setback to all our internal security operations in the country.
“However, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TY Buratai, enjoins Nigerian Army troops to ignore the distractions and call on the gallant troops never to be worried or demoralized by these moves.
“The COAS who is currently in self-isolation as part of precaution against the COVID-19, would soon be joining our gallant troops in the North East at the end of the mandatory isolation period to continue giving the desired leadership and support to the gallant and patriotic troops of the Nigerian Army.
“He said we must fight on to secure our country and people. He further enjoined troops to ignore the wicked, unnecessary distractions and direct troops to fully concentrate on the final defeat of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists group which is in sight.
“He also charges the troops to work hard and be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rules of Engagement, the Code of Conduct and the Standing Operating Procedures for all Nigerian Army Operations.
“The COAS wishes to assure and reiterate that the Nigerian Army is not only protecting human rights but also sustaining human rights nationally and globally. Our professional conduct over the years and most recently during the #ENDSARS protest at Lekki Village near Lagos are clear testimonies to the Nigerian Army’s posture on promoting sustainable human rights policy.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to advise local or international organisations not to allow themselves be used to destabilize or destroy the troops’ morale by the sponsors of mischief in Nigeria.”
