The defence headquarters (DHQ)
has dismissed the report of Amnesty International (AI) on the alleged use of
excessive force on protesting members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).
In a statement, John Agim, DHQ
spokesman, described the instances listed by the human rights group as a
figment of its imagination.
The military and IMN members
better known as Shi’ites had clashed within the federal capital territory (FCT)
for three days.
Amnesty had accused security
agencies of attacking the “peaceful” Shi’ite protesters with live ammunition,
with the intention of killing them.
Narrating its own side of what
transpired in Zuba, FCT, the DHQ said Shi’ite protesters had in a
“premeditated” fashion, confronted troops who where transporting live
ammunition and missiles to a military formation in Kaduna with the aim of
stealing the weapons.
The DHQ said in another instance,
the protesters deliberately confronted soldiers at a popular checkpoint along
Nyanya – Maraca road leading into the FCT.
He said in both instances, the
military acted in self defence, only applying minimum force to ward off the
protesters who had dangerous weapons on hand.
The statement read: “The Defence
Headquarters wishes to respond to Amnesty International (AI) reports in which
the group alleged that the Nigerian military and the police engaged in horrific
use of excessive force that led to the killing of members of the Islamic
Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ites during ‘peaceful’
protests.
“The worrisome narrative of the
Amnesty International (AI) in matters of national security and cohesion of
Nigeria has continued unabated in spite of verifiable evidences to the
contrary.
“The Amnesty international’s hate
and disdain for peaceful co-existence of Nigerians is manifested in the ways it
consistently fabricates lies and gives negative narrative of issues related to
Nigeria’s national security and its military.
“The DHQ wishes to emphasize for
the umpteenth time that the narratives of the AI are outright falsehoods and
calculated attempts at whipping up sentiments and misleading unsuspecting
Nigerians as well as demoralizing friendly nations.
“The intentions of AI in Nigeria
have remained suspect as the organization is always silent on the other side of
issues.
“Nigerians who witnessed how
military troops on legitimate duty came under unprovoked attacks from IMN
members both in Zuba area of the FCT on Sunday, 28 October 2018 and at a
security checkpoint in Mararaba, Nasarawa State on Monday, 29 October 2018 have
videos and images of wounded soldiers and damaged military vehicles with audio
commentaries. These are available in the public domain.
“Unfortunately, Amnesty
International did not see anything wrong with these unprovoked subversive
attacks on Nigerian military and other innocent passersby but was quick to
refer to the activities of IMN from whom dangerous weapons and ammunition
including Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), guns, knives and cutlasses were
recovered as a peaceful protest.
“This goes further to prove the
point that Amnesty International does not mean well for Nigeria. This is also
in tandem with their previous reputation of denigrating the security forces
anytime they make gains against the forces of evil to incite the Nigerian
public and international community against the Military.
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AI is an organization that has been politicized , if the love a particular country they always turn their face to the other side Shiites are not a law abiding religion , as long as you are not one of them you are their enemy , they feel too superior to obey laws,
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