Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye has said the Federal Government will investigate the alleged human rights violation by the Armed Forces in the ongoing efforts at curbing insurgency in the north eastern part of the country.
Reacting to a PBS Frontline programme which aired a video footage showing purported abuse by Nigerian military, the Ambassador said the Federal Government abhors such acts, saying, it is a behaviour that is contrary to everything the government stands for and the basic tenets of military discipline.
According to Prof Adefuye, atrocities have been committed by the insurgents wearing military uniforms in the past, including the abduction of Chibok girls who took the Boko Haram terrorists for Nigerian soldiers.
” But we will like to call the attention of the international community to the fact that on numerous past occasions, the insurgents have staged fabricated atrocities using stolen Government uniforms. The Chibok abduction of our school girls succeeded largely because the girls thought the abductors were Nigerian soldiers. Because they wore Nigerian Army uniforms. You may recall that recently, the Nigerian Police impounded large consignment of military uniforms shipped through Nigeria/Niger Republic border. They were seized from a warehouse in Kano.
Adefuye also called for the authentication of the video footage, just as he pledged that justice will be done.
” For this reason, it is important to examine carefully the alleged incidents and authenticate the video footage. Justice will be done once we have all the facts.
“When democracies fight terror, they must be held to a higher standard than the enemy they face. My Government welcomes scrutiny from our people and international partners. The checks and balances that come from being in the media spotlight will only benefit us all in the long run. It is worth remembering, however that information is powerful weapon that terrorists use with strategic effect. Al Qaeda, ISIS and now Boko Haram produce and disseminate sophisticated and compelling content with the intent of legitimizing their cause, instilling fear and demonizing actors.
Vanguard.
