Army denies Amnesty Int’l allegation on abuses

In from Olumide Olaoluwa …

The Military has dismissed allegations of human right abuses by the respected Amnesty International, saying there was no iota of truth in the accusation that troops were abusing civilians in the ongoing anti-terror war in the northeast.

The Director, Defence Information (DDI), Colonel Rabe Abubakar, told reporters on Thursday in Lagos that the allegations were mere assumptions.

Abubakar said: “The allegations against the troops by the group or any other group are mere assumptions and campaign to paint is black even when we are right.

“We will not be distracted; we will continue what we are doing until we win the war. It is for Nigerians to see and decide, not for any group to make assumptions they cannot defend.”

He said a committee has been set up to ensure easy passage for repentant terrorists as parts of measures to tackle insurgency.

According to him: “These repentant terrorists will be treated in line with the Geneva Convention as prisoners of war.

Read also: Boko Haram killed 3,500 civilians this year, says AI

“Their dignity and identity will be protected and their human rights will be respected, according to Standard Operation Procedures (SOP)

“We are calling on them to surrender in order for peace to reign in the northeast and by extension, the country so that we can attract investors.”

He assured that adequate security will be provided at the Safe Corridors for repentant terrorists to avoid invasion by mischief makers.

“They will be profiled, rehabilitated, deradicalised, empowered and reintegrated into the society,” he said.

Abubakar assured Nigerians that the military is doing everything possible to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok.

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