Television Nigerian

Breaking: Court discharges Sen Adeleke‎ over alleged exams malpractices

News

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May 29, 2020

Breaking: Court discharges Sen Adeleke‎ over alleged exams malpractices

A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke in the alleged exam ination malpractices trial involving him and four others.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on Friday, said he was minded to discharge Adeleke in view of the prosecution’s decision to withdraw charges against him.
‎Justice Ekwo elected to continue with the trial of the other four co-defendants in the case, who were re-arraigned on Thursday on a seven-count amended charge filed in the name of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Details shortly…

George Floyd: Protests over deadly arrest rock US’s Minneapolis

Crime
World

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May 29, 2020

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George Floyd: Protests over deadly arrest rock US’s Minneapolis

Protests erupted across the United States on Thursday night as anger over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, intensified, with some demonstrators gaining access to a police precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and setting sections of the building on fire.

Floyd died on Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin Floyd’s neck to the ground for several minutes.

A video of the incident shows Floyd pleading with officers, saying “I can’t breathe” before going motionless with the officer’s knee still on his neck.

The four officers involved were swiftly fired, but Floyd’s family, community leaders and residents are calling for arrests to be made.

“These officers, they need to be arrested right now, the people want justice right now,” Philonese Floyd, George’s brother, told CNN on Thursday morning.

“They need to be convicted and get the death penalty,” Philonese said.

Hundreds of protesters marched in downtown Minneapolis for a third night on Thursday, demanding justice and an end to police violence.

“Say his name. George Floyd,” protesters chanted. “I can’t breathe.”

Video shared on social media showed protesters stopping their march at one point, kneeling and raising a fist in a moment of silence.

As the sun set, a large fire could be seen near the third precinct of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). A live video stream by Unicorn Riot, an independent media organisation, showed protesters eventually entering the precinct and alarms and sprinklers going off as some rooms were set ablaze. Police could not be seen in the building, and the MPD did not immediately comment on reports that police had retreated.

The City of Minneapolis urged protesters to retreat from the area over unconfirmed reports that gas lines had been cut.

“We’re hearing unconfirmed reports that gas lines to the Third Precinct have been cut and other explosive materials are in the building,” the city tweeted. “If you are near the building, for your safety, PLEASE RETREAT in the event the building explodes.”

Protesters outside the police building could be heard yelling: “We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Protesters set fires at the 3rd Precinct of the Minneapolis Police Department in Minneapolis [John Minchillo/AP Photo]

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called in the US National Guard on Thursday to support local authorities as the protests escalated.

Earlier on Thursday, a small group of protesters “occupied” the space outside the home of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, who will handle the case, to demand criminal charges for the four officers – identified as Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng – involved.

“We aren’t going anywhere until Mike Freeman prosecutes and charges the officers,” protesters said in a Facebook Live video, with at least one tent put up on the sidewalk outside the county attorney’s home.

Freeman’s office said in a statement on Tuesday it was “shocked and saddened by what appeared in a recent video”.

It said it would make a decision on prosecution after it receives the completed findings of the investigations by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI.

Freeman said on Thursday his office would work through the case “as expeditiously, as thoroughly as justice demands”.

“We just can’t rush this,” Freeman said. “These need to be done right. Please give me and give me the United States attorney time to do this right and we will bring you justice.”

Troops kill 12 Boko Haram terrorists, rescue 241 kidnapped victims, recover Armoured Personnel Carrier in Borno

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May 29, 2020

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Troops kill 12 Boko Haram terrorists, rescue 241 kidnapped victims, recover Armoured Personnel Carrier in Borno

Over 12 Boko Haram fighters have been killed by troops of Army Camp 11 Gambouru under Sector 1 of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), and rescued about 241 kidnapped victims from the terrorists’ captivity, during a clearance operations which took place on 24 May 2020 at Mudu Town in Borno State the Military High Command has confirmed.

Additionally, troops of 151 Battalion on 26 May 2020 in their operation, had successfully captured one Cobra Armoured Personnel Carrier, amongst many other weapons from the terrorists.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations Maj. Gen. John Enenche, in a statement said, among the 241 rescued persons comprises of 105 Women and 136 Children.

Items recovered include: 4 BHT flags, 1 motorcycle, 2 bicycles, 1 amplifier and 2 sewing machines.

General Enenche confirmed that the rescued persons have since been safely evacuated from the village and are currently under medical observation, while the village has been cleared.

He said, there was no loss of life or equipment from the Nigerian troops.

The Coordinator also said, troops of 151 Battalion on 26 May 2020 successfully killed several Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) including several suicide bombers, while numerous others fled with gun shot wounds.

According to him, the gallant troops succesfully engaged the criminal Boko Haram elements who were mounted on 10 Gun Trucks and attempted to simultaneously attack the troops’ locations at Banki Junction and Firgi in Bama LGA of Borno State under the cover of darkness.

“The courageous troops however overpowered the terrorists with superior firepower and captured 1 Cobra Armoured Personnel Carrier, one Dushka Anti-Aircraft Gun, 1 AK 47 Rifle and 1 FN Rifle. Other items captured by the gallant troops include 3 Hand Grenades, 2 AK 47 Rifle magazines, one FN Rifle magazine, 78 rounds of 12.7mm Anti-Aircraft ammunition, 25 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and 25 rounds of fabricated 7.62mm ammunition from the criminals”.

General.l Enenche further said, a prominent Boko Haram fighter popularly called Saad Karami had surrendered to the troops.

“On 24 May 2020, a prominent Boko Haram fighter, Malam Adamu Yahaya AKA Saad Karami, who led the last attack on troops in Baga town and equally participated in attacks on Metele, Mairari, Bindiram, Kangarwa and Shetimari (Niger Republic) voluntarily surrendered to troops of 242 Battalion in Monguno.

”This was as a result of the aggressive posture of the troops and artillery bombardments of terrorists’ suspected locations around the general area”. He explained.

Reacting to the development, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has congratulated the gallant troops for their professionalism and good conduct.

He equally sends the commendation of the High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the troops and encourages them to sustain the momentum of their operations towards eradicating the terrorists from the North East.

Stung By Twitter, Trump Signs Executive Order To Weaken Social Media Companies

World

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May 29, 2020

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Stung By Twitter, Trump Signs Executive Order To Weaken Social Media Companies

President Trump has signed an executive order Thursday aimed at limiting the broad legal protections enjoyed by social media companies, two days after he tore into Twitter for fact-checking two of his tweets.

“We’re here today to defend free speech from one of the gravest dangers it has faced in American history, frankly,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “A small handful of powerful social media monopolies control the vast portion of all private and public communications in the United States.”

The president said the tech companies have “unchecked power to censor, restrict, edit, shape, hide, alter” a large sphere of human interaction. “They have points of view,” he said.

The Trump administration hopes the order will eventually set the stage for new regulations on tech platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

But legal experts said they were doubtful the move would have any practical effect on the tech giants. Legal observers described the action as “political theater,” arguing that the order does not change existing federal law and will have no bearing on federal courts.

Twitter, in a statement, called Trump’s order “a politicized approach to a landmark law,” saying attempts to erode the decades-old legal immunity may “threaten the future of online speech and Internet freedoms.”

The president’s latest confrontation with Twitter was set off after the tech company placed fact-checking warnings on two of his tweets that claimed, without evidence, that casting ballots by mail allows for voter fraud. Both Democratic and Republican states have used voting by mail for years without reports of widespread fraud.

Trump lashed out at Twitter, comparing the fact-checking labels to censorship and accusing the social media giant of stifling conservative voices, though the president did not provide any examples to back up his assertion.

The president, who often uses Twitter as a megaphone to tout his victories and blast his critics to his more than 80 million followers, said Thursday that if he had the legal authority to do so, he would completely shut down Twitter.

“I think I’d be hurting it very badly if we didn’t use it anymore,” Trump said from the White House. “We have other sites we can use, I guess, or we’d have to develop other sites.”

Twitter, in a statement, legal immunity may “threaten the future of online speech and Internet freedoms.”

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said Wednesday that the platform will continue to warn users about factual distortions on it.

Fleeing Bandits: ‘Do not panic, we are in control’, DHQ assures residents of Northwest, Central states

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May 28, 2020

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Fleeing Bandits: ‘Do not panic, we are in control’, DHQ assures residents of Northwest, Central states

The Armed Forces of Nigeria has allayed the fears of citizens in the Northwest and North Central states about alleged interstate movement of bandits and other criminal elements following the onslaught against them by the military.

A statement from the military High Command assured that the military is on top of the situation.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, the Coordinator Defence Media Operations (DMO), Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen . John Enenche hinted that the military has put in place all the proactive measures to curtail its occurrences.

Gen Enenche explained that “to address this specifically, all current operations are in synergy with the ongoing operations in the North West to tackle interstate movement of armed bandits and other criminals within the North West and North Central zones”.

He added that, air assets have been deployed to cover Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi states in this regard.

The DMO Coordinator earlier said, although there were worries from some quarters particularly in the North West and North Central parts of the Country that armed bandits could escape from states where the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies are conducting various operations at the moment, to other states.

But this, Gen. Enenche assured that the High Command of the Nigerian Military have taken all the concerns and there are stringent proactive measures to stop such occurrences from happening.

Gen. Enenche confidently reechoed that the Nigerian military is committed in tackling all the security challenges in the country, but called on the public to never to panic and assist the military in the attainment of this goal of securing the nation.

“I am to affirm that, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is totally committed to tackling all the security challenges in the country until normalcy is restored. Hence, the public is requested to continue to provide credible information to the Nigerian Military”.

188 terrorists, 412 bandits killed by troops, 236 kidnapped victims rescued within 3 weeks – DHQ

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May 28, 2020

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188 terrorists, 412 bandits killed by troops, 236 kidnapped victims rescued within 3 weeks – DHQ

Over 188 terrorists in the North East and 412 bandits including armed militia in North West and Central states have been killed while about 236 kidnapped victims have been rescued in various operations by troops within the last 22 days, the Armed Forces of Nigeria said.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, (DMO) at the Defence Headquarters, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the updates of operational activities of Armed Forces of Nigeria from 6th to 28th May, 2020 in Abuja.

Enenche said that the milestone achievements were the product of joint operations by all components of the military including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies.

According to him,their joint operations had considerably degraded and reduced the terrorist activities and other criminality in the country.

Gen. Enenche further gave the highlights of the operations under the various theatre operations as follows .

Under Operation Lafiya Dole, he said the troops had killed scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters and their senior commanders.

Enenche further disclosed that the troops also destroyed terrorist’s logistics facilities, gun trucks and other structures as they recovered some arms and ammunition during the period under review.

DMO Coordinator also said, a total of 188 BHT/ISWAP fighters were killed and several others suffered various degrees of gunshot wounds with narrow chances of survival as some kidnapped victims were rescued.

“This is in addition to several others killed in air bombardments. The troops also rescued a total of 236 civilians – women and children, who were abducted by the terrorists.

“The victims have undergone medical checkups and treatments at our health facilities”. He stated.

Under Operation Hadarin Daji, Gen. Enenche hinted that , the troops had in various clearance operations neutralised 392 armed bandits in Katsina and Zamfara States within the period.

The troops,he further said had destroyed some dwellings and logistics warehouses of the bandits at Dunya, Abu Radde’s Camp and Ibrahim Mai Bai’s Camp in Jibia and Danmusa Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

He said that same destruction also took place at Maikomi and Kurmin Kurain Birnin Magaji and Zurmi Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.

This, according to him, is in addition to several others killed by air bombardments that led to destruction of several logistics facilities and compounds, housing some key bandits’ leaders.

Operation Whirl Punch that operates in the North Central states of Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa, Enenche said had killed 20 armed bandits in Benue and Taraba States.

He explained that the troops also carried out a raid operation on a criminal hideout off Zaki Biam and Katsina-Ala highway where a notorious armed robber, Terugwa Igbagwa alias Orjondu, was killed.

According to him, troops also recovered large cache of arms and ammunition within the period under review, adding that a notorious Benue kingpin Terwase Agwaza Alias Gana had narrowly escaped with gunshot wounds during the raid out operation.

In maritime operations, the coordinator disclosed that a Nigerian Navy ship (Pathfinder) Patrol Team, on May 26, conducted Anti-Crude oil theft/anti-illegal bunkering operations around Briakiri off Onne and Abise community off Abonema Akukutoru Local Government Area of Rivers state.

He said that the team located two illegal refining sites with four storage tanks laden with estimated 400,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO during the operation.

Enenche explained that the products were impounded while two pumping machines were recovered to the base, adding that no arrest was made as the perpetrators fled on sighting the patrol team.

According to him, on May 25, the Navy Ship Delta intercepted a wooden boat and a speed boat around Ilaopashe, Bennett island and Lokpobri communities in Warri and Burutu South Local Government Areas of Delta State.

He added that, the team located four illegal refining sites with 14 dug-out pits, 32 surface metal storage tanks and 43 ovens laden with about 628.98 barrels of suspected stolen crude oil as well as 72,000.00 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

“Likewise the team located a 3-inch pipe and associated fittings close to NPDC pipeline around Bennett Island, suspected to have been laid by crude oil thieves.

“Subsequently, the team disconnected the pipes and fittings. The storage facilities were dismantled while the speed boat was recovered to the base.

“Similarly, the Forward Operating Base IBAKA on 26 May 2020 while on routine patrol around Ewang Creek intercepted and arrested a medium size wooden boat laden with drums of products suspected to be stolen PMS with two suspects.

“Suspects and items recovered from the arrest include 49,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen PMS.

“The suspects are currently undergoing investigation and will soon be handed over to the relevant prosecuting agency.

“Furthermore, within the period under review, the Nigerian Navy in furtherance of its quest to secure our Exclusive Economic Zone, and the Gulf of Guinea rescued a Chinese fishing trawler Hailufeng 11, rescued 18 crewed and arrested 10 sea pirates”.

Gen. Enenche however extended the commendations of the Military High Command to the public for providing credible information that facilitated the successes of various operations.

He enjoined the public to be proactive in the provision of timely information on suspicious movements and strangers within their locality to military operations headquarters in their areas.

He therefore, pledged the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in launching the offensives against the terrorists, banditry other criminality in the country.

Court upholds INEC’s power to de-register political parties

Politics

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May 28, 2020

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Court upholds INEC’s power to de-register political parties

The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the Power of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to deregister political parties which failed to comply with the provisions of the law particularly Section 225 A of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo in a landmark judgment delivered in the Suit filed by the National Unity Party, one of the 74 parties deregistered by INEC in February affirmed that the constitutional power of the electoral commission and the reasons given by the Commission for the deregisteration of parties are valid,in conformity with the law , sacrosanct and could not be affected by the fact of anticipated Local govt elections by some states which dates were not fixed, certain or even ascertainable.

The Court therefore held that the deregistration of National Unity Party as a political party in Nigeria was lawfully done in exercise of vested constitutional powers of INEC in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution.
It would be recalled that INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in February announced de-registration of 74 out of the 91 parties in the country.

With the development, the country now has 18 political parties.
The 18 parties that survived

The 18 parties that survived INEC’s hammer include Accord Party (A), Action Alliance (AA), African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), African Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Others are Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Young Progressive Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Yakubu, however, said one of the political parties, Action Peoples Party (APP), filed a suit in court and obtained an order restraining the commission from deregistering it, and so remained registered pending the determination of the case by the court.

He also said the 18th party, which was a new political party, Boot Party (BP), registered by court order after the 2019 general elections, will also continue to exist.

Breaking: Buhari splits Police Force CID, approves additional Commands

Security

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May 28, 2020

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The Force Intelligence Bureau will soon be detached from the Force Criminal Investigation Department so that it can become a full-fledged Department.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, disclosed this in a memo he personally signed

Adamu said after the FIB is excised from the FCID, a Deputy Inspector General of Police will be appointed as Head of the new Department.
“This is expected to fully integrate intelligence-led policing strategy to the community policing initiative in addressing the threats that the dynamics of crime poses to the country,” said the IGP.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari in his capacity as Chairman of the Nigeria Police Council has approved the re-organisation of the Nigeria Police Force with immediate effect.

Adamu, in the memo titled: “Force Re-organisation,” said with the approval, the NPF now have eight Departments.
In order to bring Police service closer to the citizens, the Police boss said Buhari has also approved the creation of additional five Zonal Commands.

They include Ondo/Ekiti Commands, with the Headquarters in Akure; Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi Commands, with the Headquarters in Awka; Bayelsa/Rivers Commands, with Headquarters in Yenagoa; Yobe/Borno Commands, with the Headquarters in Maiduguri; and Katsina/Kaduna Commands, with headquarters in Katsina.

Adamu said: “In order to enhance the capacity of the four premiere Police Colleges in Kaduna, Ikeja, Maiduguri and Orji-River towards meeting the training and capacity development projection of the Force in relation to junior cadre officers, Mr. President approved that the status of the Commandants of the Colleges be upgraded to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police.

“This will strengthen administration, enhance the commitment of staff, and engender higher level of discipline and the quality of training at the Colleges. These approvals were granted by the President in furtherance to the need to expand and strengthen the Intelligence Department towards driving the intelligence-led policing strategy of the Force leadership and to aid in the entrenchment of the community policing practice as approved by the Federal Government.”

Infectious Disease Bill: Court Did Not Stop Probe Of CUPP Spokesman Over $10m Dollars Bribery Allegation

News

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May 28, 2020

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Infectious Disease Bill: Court Did Not Stop Probe Of CUPP Spokesman Over $10m Dollars Bribery Allegation

Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court has said that he did not stop the probe of $10m dollars bribery allegation made against the House of Representatives by the Spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Chief Imo Ikenga Ugochinyere.

The court made the clarification yesterday after media reports that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, was summoned by the court over the invitation of Ugochinyere, to appear before a committee of the House of Representatives to substantiate the allegation he made against the House.

After he was invited, he rushed to the court to stop his invitation but the court declined and said that his counsel to serve the processes on the House of Representatives to intimate them pendency ofbtge suit.

When the case came up yesterday, counsel to the Speaker, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, told the court about the misrepresentation of the facts of the matter in the media.

Justice Taiwo, in his response expressed disappointment and added that he never made any order asking the Speaker to appear before the court.

He said some persons are trying to use the media to mislead members of the public in respect of this case.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo emphatically stated that he hasn’t made any order against the Speaker nor asked the Speaker to be brought before the court.

Ajulo told the court that he could not file his responses due to the public holidays and sought to file the responses in court.

The court granted the request and adjourned the matter to June 8 for hearing.

Last week, it was reported that the court ordered the House of Representatives to Appear before the court over ongoing moves by the House to invite the CUPP Spokesperson.

Ugochinyere had dragged the Speaker, Clerk of the National Assembly and the Inspector General of Police before the court to challenge his invitation to substantiate the bribery allegation made against them.

Amnesty International’s Latest Report Against Military Fallacious, Lacking In Objectivity- CALSER

Security

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May 28, 2020

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Amnesty International’s Latest Report Against Military Fallacious, Lacking In Objectivity- CALSER

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has rubbished Amnesty International’s latest report against the Nigerian Military in the war against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

Amnesty had alleged that children in the North-East were being subjected to unlawful treatment and detention in inhumane conditions.

However, in a counter-report signed by Princess Ajibola, on Wednesday, CALSER described the claims as “ fallacy, lacking in objectivity”.

The Centre said this may just be another coy by the international humanitarian organization in its characteristics penchant for distracting the Nigerian troops when the morale is high.

CALSER added that this is even more striking, especially as the report was based on an interview conducted on only 48 children held in detention, as well as 22 adults.

Contrary to AI’s allegation, the Centre disclosed that the military have been conducting operations that led to the rescue of thousands of women and children, granting them access to medical care before release to their families.

CALSER noted that in all of its engagements, “we have not been able to establish cases of torture by the Nigerian Military as put forward by Amnesty International”.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Liberation, therefore, stated that the recent report by AI is lacking in all ramifications and should be disregarded by all and sundry.

It, however, pledged its commitment to continue working with the military in the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

Read the full report below:

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights Statement on Amnesty International’s report “‘We dried our tears’: Addressing the toll on children of Northeast Nigeria’s conflict” accusing the Nigerian Military subjecting children in North-East Nigeria to unlawful treatment and detention.

The Nigerian Military has been engaged in the prosecution of the war against terrorism in North-East Nigeria since 2009 when the Boko Haram terrorist group began a violent campaign against Nigeria.

As standard with warfare, there are bound to be casualties of immeasurable proportion. But the report by Amnesty International in fulfilment of its supposed mandate of bringing to the fore perceived cases of human rights violations in countries where it operates, Nigeria inclusive is lopsided.

In the report by Amnesty International, it alluded that the Nigerian Military’s treatment of those who escape such brutality has also been appalling. From mass, unlawful detention in inhumane conditions, to meting out beatings and torture and allowing sexual abuse by adult inmates – it defies belief that children anywhere would be so grievously harmed by the very authorities charged with their protection.

This statement is at best a fallacy that lacks objectivity as the activities of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria has continuously been scrutinized by a coalition of civil society organizations including the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights believes that the motives of Amnesty International in this regard could be hinged on a disdain for the successes recorded since 2016 when the Nigerian Military gained ascendency over the Boko Haram terrorist group.

This is on the heels that the report was based on an interview conducted on 48 children held in detention, as well as 22 adults. It is indeed questionable that conclusions can be drawn from such sample size given the population of North-East Nigeria that as at 2011 stands at 23,558,674 or 13.5% of the country’s population.

It must be stated that such a sample size cannot avail a reasonable conclusion in research. As such, there is a high level of mischief on the part of Amnesty International, which might not be unconnected with its insatiable desire to see to the festering of the crisis in North-East Nigeria to suit their purpose and cause a distraction to the operations of the Nigerian Military.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights have in times past questioned the genuineness of the reports of Amnesty International on Nigeria. This position of ours had led to the commissioning of various researches to ascertain the veracity of the claims made by Amnesty International.

It suffices to state that on these occasions, there was a wide disparity between what was reported by Amnesty and our team of independent researchers. This has been the trend, and it has assumed a worrisome dimension with the recent report by Amnesty International.

Amnesty International in its report also posited that most of such detentions were unlawful; children were never charged or prosecuted for any crime and are denied the rights to access a lawyer, appear before a judge, or communicate with their families. The widespread unlawful detentions may amount to a crime against humanity.

It is common knowledge that the use of children in war is a crime against humanity. And as such, it is indeed bewildering that Amnesty International can feign ignorance to these ignoble acts by Boko Haram. While it is understandable that Amnesty International would feign this ignorance, it is nonetheless against all known protocols why such anomalies should be encouraged rather than rebuked.

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights is in receipt of the fact that the Nigerian Military has been conducting rescue operations that have led to the rescue of thousands of women and children have been rescued from the Boko Haram captivity. It is also public knowledge that the Nigerian Military has availed those rescued from captivity access to medical care, as well as counselling before they are released back to their families.

Therefore, there is no record in the archives of the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights that indicates otherwise. We have also been painstaking in scrutinizing cases of human rights violations in North-East Nigeria and the bulk of the summary of our scrutiny highlighted gross violations by the Boko Haram group. Case studies were seen in the Chibok girls, the Dapchi girls, as well as the Buni Yadi massacre of young boys in their dormitory by the Boko Haram group.

It must be stated that children rescued from Boko Haram captivity are not detained or charge for terrorism as in the first instance, the involvement of children was more forceful and against their wishes. This fact, the Nigerian Military highlighted and stated that counselling sessions are availed rescued captives regardless of their age or gender.

Amnesty International was economical with the truth when it stated in the report that almost everyone fleeing Boko Haram territory, including children, is “screened” by the Military and Civilian Joint Task Force – a process that, for many, involves torture until the person “confesses” to affiliation with Boko Haram. Alleged Boko Haram members and supporters are transferred and held, often for months or years, in squalid conditions in detention centres including Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri and the Kanji military base in Niger State.

Every discerning mind would agree that screening is a precautionary measure put in place by the Nigerian Military to ensure that fleeing Boko Haram terrorist do not infiltrate the civilian populace and wreak further havoc. The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights observed that these precautionary measures have indeed drastically reduced incidences of suicide bombings in markets, places of worship, communities and other places in times past.

Moreover, in all of our engagements, we have not been able to establish cases of torture by the Nigerian Military as put forward by Amnesty International. We are indeed aware that the Nigerian Military has a Directorate for Civil-Military relations, as well as the establishment of human rights desks.

It is worthy to state that the establishments of these initiatives have seen to the reprimanding and consequent prosecution of errant soldiers that were caught violating human rights in North-East Nigeria.

It is therefore awkward that Amnesty International estimates that at least 10,000 people, including many children, have died in detention during the conflict. There is no iota of truth in this claim, and this much Amnesty International must own up to.

Amnesty International contradicted itself in its report wherein it stated that conditions are better at the Operation Safe Corridor site than elsewhere in military detention, and former detainees spoke positively about the psychosocial support and adult education there.

For inexplicable reasons, Amnesty International refused to acknowledge the fact that the detention facilities of the Nigerian Military operate under the same conditions. This much the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights can attest to given the fact that it has on several occasions, visited the various detention centers of the Nigerian Military in various locations.

The Centre for Africa Liberation wishes to advise Amnesty International to dedicate substantial time to conducting field research instead of relying on hearsays and desk research with regards to the operations of the Nigerian Military in North-East Nigeria.

Conclusion:

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Liberation states in unequivocal terms that the recent report by Amnesty International is lacking in all ramifications and should be disregarded by all and sundry.

The accusations are with sinister motives and not a reflection of the issues on the ground. The general public must realize that acts of terrorism are of various dimensions and Amnesty International through its recently released report has availed us the possibility of intellectual terrorism.

The Centre for Africa Liberation would continue to work with the Nigerian Military in the war against terrorism in Nigeria.