A United States lawmaker, Mr. Patrick Leahy, has described Nigerian soldiers as “murderers and rapists.”
Leahy stated this while reacting to comments credited to President Muhammadu Buhari during his state visit that certain American laws slowed down the fight against insurgency.
The senator, who is the sponsor of the Leahy Law which prohibits the US Department of State and Department of Defence from providing military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights, said Buhari or himself could not be blamed for the evils perpetrated by the “murderers and rapists in the Nigerian military.”
He said, “It is well-documented by the State Department and by respected human rights organisations that Nigerian army personnel have, for many years, engaged in a pattern and practice of gross violations of human rights against the Nigerian people and others, including summary executions of prisoners, indiscriminate attacks against civilians, torture, forced disappearances and rape. Rarely have the perpetrators been prosecuted or punished.
“This abusive conduct not only violates the laws of war, it creates fear and loathing among the Nigerian people whose support is necessary to defeat a terrorist group like Boko Haram.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Leahy has spoken d truth.coz this is d country where our military guys proved to b above d law and bully pple in d society .they abuse human rights every where in d town ,at check points or while patrolling .PMB shld work on this pls.
ReplyDeleteExactly what American soldiers did in Irag I reckon.Pot calling kettle black
ReplyDeleteWhile there is some sense in what the respected American senator said, he should not generalize it. The American army and police are also know severe violators of human rights. Their indiscriminate slaughter of non combatants in Iraq and Afghanistan and police killing of black people are not less heinous. The act prohibiting arms sales to violators of human rights would have been commendable if fairness has been the watchwords. The Americans violates humans rights both home and abroad- water boarding and secret rendition and detention of prisoners . Which countries violate human rights more than Egypt, Israel and even Saudi Arabia where women don't vote, drive nor operate bank accounts but yet are the highest recipients of US arms and support. Also American preach democracy to other nations but the fear of Saudi, Kuwaiti, Qatar, and Bahraini oil, has mad them turn a blind eye to the dictatorship in these countries. America is a country of double standard and so many times their arguments don't hold water when measured morally.
ReplyDelete