Politics
Accused of extra-judicial killing of citizens, Nigeria faults Amnesty report
Nigeria, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the weekend officially debunked claims by Amnesty International (AI) that the country’s military had been involved in extra-judicial killing of its citizens.
The group had in its recent report, alleged that the military killed no fewer than 240 in Borno State, including women and babies, and 177 Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members in the South East.
While the Defence headquarters immediately issued a rebuttal describing Amnesty’s claims as “inconceivable”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr Clement Aduku in Abuja, accused Amnesty of one-sided report as it did not condemn the atrocities committed by terrorist groups in Nigeria.
Read also: ‘Jonathan rejected British offer to rescue Chibok schoolgirls’
On the matter of the Shiite movement in Nigeria, the Ministry said, “The case of Mr El-Zakzaky is a high and sensitive national security issue. The activities of the IMN in general and El-Zakzaky Movement in particular, are reminiscent of Boko Haram.
“This had become a menace and a source of concern not only to Nigeria, but to the Lake Chad Basin region and the entire world.”
And, on the agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra, Nigeria argued that the agitation by the separatist group was unacceptable and detrimental to the peace, unity, stability and development of the Nigerian State.
The Federal Government, therefore, held that, “It is in this regard that the Ministry encourages it to endeavour to consult widely before releasing its future publications to ensure a more balanced, credible and unbiased reportage.
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