Badeh; Ihejirika
The crimes, according to the global civil
rights organisation, were perpetrated during the fight against Boko
Haram in the North-East between March 2011 and 2014.
It said in a comprehensive report,
entitled, “Stars on their shoulders, blood on their hands: War crimes
committed by the Nigerian military,” that no fewer than 8,000 persons
were “murdered, starved, suffocated and tortured to death “in the
North-East during the period.
AI
added in the report which was presented in Abuja on Wednesday by its
African Director (Research and Advocacy), Netsanet Belay, and Senior
Director of Reseach, Anna Neistat, that it had “compelling evidence”
for the investigation of the former and serving service chiefs as well
as “mid-level and senior-level military commanders.”
The rights group outlined the roles and
possible criminal responsibilities of those along the chain of command –
up to the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff.
It therefore listed a former Chief of
Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; former Chief of Defence Staff,
Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim; the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal
Alex Badeh, and the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah, among
the nine senior military figures that should be investigated for their
command and individual roles in the commission of the crimes.
The others are Maj. Gen. John Ewansiha,
Maj. Gen. Obida Ethnan, Maj. Gen. Ahmadu Mohammed, Brig.-Gen. Austin
Edokpayi and Brig. Gen. Rufus Bamigboye.
The AI report revealed that since March
2011, more than 7,000 young men and boys died in military detention
while no fewer than 1,200 people were unlawfully killed in February
2012.
It said, “We call on President Buhari to
end the culture of impunity that has blighted Nigeria ,and for the
African Union and international community to encourage and support these
efforts. As a matter of urgency, the President must launch an immediate
and impartial investigation into the crimes detailed in the report and
hold all those responsible to account, no matter their rank or position.
Only then can there be justice for the dead and their relatives.
“The Nigerian military, including senior
military commanders, must be investigated for participating in,
sanctioning or failing to prevent the deaths of more than 8,000 people
murdered, starved, suffocated, and tortured to death.
“Based on years of research and analysis
of evidence – including leaked military reports and correspondence, as
well as interviews with more than 400 victims, eyewitnesses and senior
members of the Nigerian security forces – the organisation outlines a
range of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed by
the Nigerian military in the course of the fight against Boko Haram in
the North-East of the country.
“The organisation has also submitted to
the ICC a list of names of military officers who should be investigated
for their possible role in the crimes under international law and
serious human rights violations documented in this report.
“They (officers) would be responsible if
they knew or if they should have known about the commission of the war
crimes and failed to take adequate action to prevent them or ensure that
the alleged perpetrators are brought to justice.”
According to AI, more than 1,200 people
were victims of extrajudicial killings by the military and associated
militias in the North-East while the worst case documented took
place on March 14, 2014 when the military killed more than 640 detainees
who fled Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State, after a Boko Haram
attack .
According to the report, the conditions
of detention in Giwa Barracks and detention centres in Damaturu “were so
overcrowded that hundreds of detainees were packed into small cells
where they had to take turns sleeping or even sitting on the floor.”
The report added that “at its peak, Giwa
Barracks which was not built as a detention facility was
accommodating more than 2,000 detainees at one time.”
The organisation said it had also
petitioned the ICC with a view to ensuring the prosecution of the
indicted officers for war crimes in Nigeria.
AI added that it had already shared the
findings of the research and relevant evidence with the Office of the
Prosecutor of the ICC.
“AI has also shared the findings of this
research and relevant evidence, with the office of the ICC . The
organisation has also submitted to the ICC a list of names of military
officers who should be investigated for their possible role in the
crimes under international law and serious human rights violations
documented in this report,” it added.
Buhari acknowledged receipt of the AI report and promised to study it with a view to taking an action on it.
He said in a statement by his Senior
Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, from Niamey,
Niger Republic that the report contained many disturbing allegations
that needed to be looked into.
“I assure you that your report will be
looked into.We will not tolerate or condone impunity and reckless
disregard for human rights,” he added.
But the Defence Headquarters said the AI
report smacked of extreme bias “which is disturbing coming from an
otherwise reputable organisation that is expected to be just and fair to
all.”
The DHQ added in a statement by the
Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, that the
serving and retired senior military officers mentioned by AI had no
reason whatsoever to indulge in the allegation made against them.
“It is unfortunate that the organisation
just went out to gather names of specified senior officers, in a
calculated attempt to rubbish their reputation as well as the image of
the military. The action, no doubt, depicts more of a premeditated
indictment aimed at discrediting the country for whatever purpose,” it
stated.
The DHQ noted that each of the previous
allegations made by AI had been thoroughly responded to and cleared in
the public and insisted that the human rights organisation had taken
a premeditated position, “which is far from noble.”
It added, “It is curious that a body
that has never been able to seriously condemn terror in Nigeria now
claims to have done an extensive research with the aim of discrediting
the nation’s effort at curtailing terror.
“It is clear that Amnesty International
becomes more active in presenting distractive allegations whenever the
terrorists are losing ground in the battle. It is very unfortunate that
Amnesty International has used this report to further confirm its
questionable interest in the counter-terrorism effort in Nigeria.”
The DHQ advised AI to stop playing the
role of an irritant coming up loudly only when the terrorists are losing
out and remaining silent or complacent whenever they (terrorists)
heighten their atrocities.
It said that it was unfair of AI to
persist in effort to discredit the military by seeking all avenues to
stigmatise individual officers purely to satisfy an agenda against the
security agencies and image of Nigeria before the international
community.
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