Amnesty International wants Ihejirika, Badeh, others probed for war crimes … asks ICC, Buhari to launch probe

Firstclass newsline gathered that Amnesty International has called on
President Muhammadu Buhari and the International Criminal Court in the
Hague, Netherlands to investigate some former and serving Nigerian
service chiefs for war crimes.
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.
Firstclassnewsline.net