The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has called on Amnesty International to substantiate its claims that over 10,000 individuals have died in military custody since the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.
Amnesty International made the allegations during a press conference on Thursday, where its Country Director, Isa Sanusi, announced the filing of a case with the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The organization accused the Nigerian military of committing crimes against humanity, sparking widespread reactions.
Responding to the allegations, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, issued a statement on Friday dismissing the claims as baseless and lacking merit.
“The armed forces view the pronouncements by Amnesty International as shocking, lacking in merit, as well as mischievous, particularly as it comes at this ending cycle stage of the counter-terrorism war in the North-East,” Buba stated.
He emphasized the professionalism of the Nigerian military, asserting that all operations are conducted in line with international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflict.
He added that the military adheres strictly to rules of engagement to avoid civilian casualties.
“Whenever arrests are made, suspects are profiled, after which they are handed over to the appropriate agency for either release or prosecution,” Buba explained.
He further noted that mechanisms, such as standing court-martials within operational theatres, are in place to ensure that justice is served promptly for any personnel found to have acted unethically during operations.
Buba also pointed to the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, under which the armed forces remain committed to global best practices in carrying out their constitutional mandates.
However, he extended an invitation to Amnesty International to provide concrete evidence supporting its claims.
“On the whole, the armed forces invite Amnesty International to substantiate the details of the allegations. This will enable the military to conduct an inquiry to determine the authenticity or otherwise of the allegations,” he said.
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