Insecurity: Report lauds Nigerian Army on human rights, rescue of abductees

By Dansu Peter 

The Nigerian Army has received massive praises for showcasing a high level of human rights compliance in its various operations across the country this year. 

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) made the revelation in a special report appraising the performance of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2020. 

In the report signed by the special rapporteur, Dr. Abubakar Gana, on Wednesday, the army also scored lofty points for its successful search and rescue operations, which was rated above previous years.  

The report also rubbished the allegations of human rights abuses against the army, noting that the establishment of a human rights desk and credible leadership provided by the army's hierarchy made the difference this year. 

The report observed that the army's various internal security operations were successful and appreciated by all Nigerians. 

The troops also improved in professionalism, commitment and proactiveness in their line of duty with improved accountability and transparency, according to the report.  

To consolidate on these gains in the incoming year, the CESJET, however, recommended that troops cultivate a more robust relationship with the media community towards ensuring that prominence is not given to the propaganda of terrorist and militant groups in the country. 

The centre also urged the army to imbibe the habit of controlling the narrative in the public space to keep the populace abreast of its operations and the motives behind its involvement in internal security operations in the country. 

Read the full report below:

Introduction: 

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency in fulfilment of its strategic mandate of ensuring social justice, equity and transparency in Nigeria, assessed the performance of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the year 2020. 

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency relied on the events that shaped the operations of the Armed Forces in the war against insurgency in North-East Nigeria and its role in Internal Security Operations across the country. 

Research Methodology  

Extensive research was undertaken with the overarching objective of assessing the Nigerian Armed Forces' operations in 2020. Emphasis was placed on primary sources of data, which includes but not limited to interviews, on the spot assessment visits to the theatre of operations in North-East Nigeria, the convocation of town hall meetings with stakeholders where the Nigerian Armed Forces are in operation, review of the operational manual in terms of clearance operations, rescue operations and other actions surrounding its constitutional mandate of preserving the territorial integrity of Nigeria. 

The Issues: 

The Centre for Social Justice in the cause of the appraisal of the Nigerian Armed Forces' operational effectiveness in 2020 identified a couple of issues that were of importance in the assessment of the operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Human Rights Compliance: 

Human rights compliance by the Nigerian Armed Forces has dominated the discourse in recent times. It has been alleged that the Nigerian Armed Forces have been engaged in gross human rights violations in its various operations around the country. 

The year 2020 indeed presented a renewed commitment by the Nigerian Armed Forces to preserve human rights in the country. From available findings, the human rights record of the Nigerian Armed Forces was quite impressed with the various innovations introduced and implemented throughout the year. The Nigerian Army led the pack with the establishment of a human rights desk in all its units and formations to address issues of human rights violations by officers and soldiers. 

This is indeed a masterstroke in the sense that it indeed kept officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in check in the discharge of their duties and significantly reduced incidences of human rights abuses and brutality that has become the focus of the recent protests across the country.

In the year 2020, cases of human rights violations by the Nigerian Armed Forces were at its lowest ebb compared to previous years that recorded high human rights violations cases. This was achieved through the provision of credible leadership provided by the hierarchy of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the conduct of officers and soldiers in the line of duty. 

It was also observed that the Directorate of Civil-Military was very proactive in the year 2020. To a large extent, it contributed to a robust relationship between the Nigerian Military and the civil populace. 

Rescue of Abducted Persons: 

The year 2020 was indeed eventful from all available findings, and it recorded a high number of search and rescue operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces. The number of persons rescued from captivity in 2020 indeed exceeded previous years. 

The number of women and children rescued from Boko Haram captivity signalled a commitment by the Nigerian Armed Forces in the discharge of its responsibilities. 

It was also observed that the Nigerian Armed Forces foiled the series of kidnap cases through its involvement in Internal Security Operations. This is also on the heels that the various internal security operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces have been very successful and commended wide and far. 

One such instance is Operation Sahel Sanity introduced to combat armed banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnappings. Operation Sahel Sanity was also extended to parts of North Central Nigeria. Its operations were also successful in addressing incidences of high way kidnappings. 

In the year 2020, the Nigerian Army also launched Operation Crocodile Smile in South-East Nigeria and Cross River State to address ritual killings, kidnappings and other forms of criminalities in the region. 

The Entrenchment of Professionalism: 

The year 2020 also witnessed the introduction of professionalism in the operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces that saw an increased level of commitment and proactiveness in the conduct of officers and soldiers in the line of duty. This much was evident in the successes recorded in the prosecution of the war against insurgency in North-East Nigeria and the activities of militant groups across the country. 

It was also observed that the welfare of officers and soldiers witnessed a massive improvement. This contributed to a large extent the renewed commitment towards addressing the myriads of security challenges in the country which was quite impressive and a giant leap from previous years. 

Improvement in Accountability and Transparency: 

It was observed that in 2020 there was an improvement in accountability and transparency in the operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces. This was primarily responsible for the feats achieved in the year and a departure from the norm where there was so much secrecy in defence spending.   

Conclusion:  

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency after extensive scrutiny of the operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces in 2020, concludes that the Nigerian Armed Forces' performance was outstanding and commendable in all ramification. 

We consequently wish to state that there was a significant improvement in the Nigerian Armed Forces' operations using all available indices. The year 2020 can thus be regarded as a year that witnessed substantial improvements in all areas of its operations. This is true, commendable. 

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency gives the Nigerian Armed Forces an excellent grade in its conduct in 2020.   We consequently commend the leadership of the various security agencies in the country for a job well done. 

Recommendation: 

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency resulting from the forgoing makes the following recommendations towards ensuring that the successes of the year 2020 are sustained and surpassed in the coming year. 

The Nigerian Armed Forces must cultivate a more robust relationship with the media community towards ensuring that prominence is not given to the propaganda of terrorist and militant groups in the country. 

The Nigerian Armed Forces must imbibe the habit of controlling the narrative in the public space to keep the populace abreast of its operations and the motives behind its involvement in internal security operations in the country. 

The Nigerian Armed Forces must continue to rise in defence in democracy in Nigeria at all times. 

REVEALED: How Nigerian activists lose $10m deal with Amnesty International over Buhari’s rescue of Kankara boys

By News Proof 

A circuit of prominent Nigerian activists appears to have missed out on as much as $10 million bumper deal meant to come their way from global rights monitoring group, Amnesty International following the prompt rescue of the 314 schoolboys, who were abducted by gunmen from their school in Kankara, Katsina State.

The abduction of the schoolboys gunmen initially thought to be bandits, and at some later point, Boko Haram terrorists had drawn international concerns sparking fears that a repeat of a similar but more unfortunate incident in Chibok, Borno state, in which 112 of schoolgirls abducted from their school by Boko Haram terrorists are yet to be reunited with their families was in the making. 

The Nigerian government, however, turned things around for good by orchestrating the freedom and release of the children unharmed. The Nigerian Army’s Operation Sahel Sanity cordoned off the gunmen holding the schoolboys and effectively ended what could have potentially turned out to be a harrowing experience for the teenage boys as they were all freed unhurt in that operation.  

Our correspondent reliable gathered that Amnesty International had positioned to exploit the recent Kankara incident same way it did with Chibok Girls, using prominent anti-government activists to discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari by highlighting how the abductions happened on his watch. The fallout from the abduction of the Chibok Girls was widely believed to have contributed to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s loss at the 2015 polls.

A source familiar with the plot disclosed that Amnesty, which has been accused of pursuing an agenda to destabilise Nigeria, had warehoused $10 million to mobilize local activists to design and implement “series of engagement on the Kankara Boys incident” which is reportedly a code phrase for widespread protests and campaign of propaganda directed against the government.

Activists reportedly on the list to benefit from the $10 million “sweetener” are Femi Falana, Aisha Yesufu, Ahmad Salkida, Deji Adeyanju, Oby Ezekwesili, Shehu Sani amongst others while they were in turn expected to draw in newly identified names from the #EndSARS protests to give the ensuing protests “an organic feel”. 

According to the source, who crave anonymity over fear of a backlash, “Amnesty International was to pay the money to a company outside Nigeria on Friday. Unfortunately, the Federal Government successfully achieved the release of the boys after the military stepped in and made it impossible for the bandits to move out of the area where they were keeping the boys.

“They (activists) may not be directly connected to it but the video in which the boys were told to say they were abducted by Boko Haram was meant to give the activists more leverage to harass the government by claiming that the military has further lost grip of the country to Boko Haram, which would, in turn, enable Amnesty International to attribute series of events in the north-west of Nigeria to the military. Things could have gotten really ugly,” the source who claimed to have brokered the similar deal for a female among the activists stated.

Hints of the $10 million budget for advancing the anti-Nigeria agenda had triggered a flurry of activities among the activists as they jostled to set the narrative for what was nationally feared would end up a tragedy. They had created hashtags that were meant to make trend the abductions on social media similar to what they did with #BringBackOurGirls. #KankaraBoys #KankaraStudents and #BringBackOurBoys were thrown up and were already trending before the boys were rescued by the military.

Senator Shehu Sani, @ShehuSani, wrote, “The Friday night attacks in Kankara town Katsina state and the reported kidnappings of students of the Government Secondary School by bandits is another tragedy in the season of woes. Until the (sic) these bandits are tackled and crushed, the problem will not fizzle out.”

Oby Ezekwesili, @obydzeks, said “What exactly is the grossly incompetent and coldly indifferent @NGRPresident @MBuhari really doing in Katsina State while disconsolate parents of 333 #KankaraBoys cry their eyes out? Does the President know more than we are being told about the whereabouts of those students?”

Even after the students were freed from captivity, there was last-minute push on the part of some of the activists who reportedly told Amnesty International that they can still use the incident to do some damage. It was however unclear if the organization bought this argument or if it went ahead to disburse part of the funds since the basis on which it was to be spent has been overtaken by events.

The activists nonetheless continued their attacks on government while twisting preventive steps being taken to keep other students safe out of context. Aisha Yesufu @AishaYesufu for instance jubilantly said “The reasons Boko Haram gave us for abducting #KankaraStudents was so western education should be stopped. Schools are being closed. They won! When will Nigeria government go after Boko Haram terrorists?”

Her assertion is consistent with what Amnesty International had declared a clear four days before. The international NGO had rushed to credit Boko Haram for the abduction of the schoolboys, which further cement claims by some organizations that the rights group was running propaganda to present the terrorist group as stronger than it actually is. Its statement, titled “Nigeria: Education under attack in the north” went as far as validating an erroneous claim that more than 500 students were abducted when in reality the 314 that were rescued were the only ones abducted in the ugly incident.

Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, had said “These children are abducted in serious risk of being harmed and being forced to become child soldiers. Nigerian authorities must take all measures to return them to safety, along with all children currently under the custody of Boko Haram.”  

The activists have now reportedly raised a team to pressure Ojigho into persuading Amnesty International’s London headquarters that the funds can be channelled into executing projects that will deliver results and would be similar in impact too if the abducted schoolboys had not regained their freedom.

Abduction: Shekau, Salkida, and the rest of usBy Idoko Ainoko

By Idoko Ainoko 

As a tenet of its false constituted ideology and business model, the insurgents had taken thousands of young Nigerians, many of whom were raped or conscripted as fighters. Most of these abductions went unnoticed, and it took the security forces unaware. For long, this name has always send shivers down everyone’s spine, whenever Boko haram is being mentioned.

Unlike the tragic abduction of the 276 teenage Chibok girls, which took place on April 14,  2014, that sparked a global outrage with sequential futile effort in rescuing all of them but could only get a handful number after rigorous negotiations that went back and forth, President Muhammadu Buhari sprang into action on hearing of the abduction of hundreds of children by gunmen from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, on December 11.

 Muhammadu Buhari had strongly condemned the attack on the school in Kankara and charged the military and the police to go after the attackers to ensure that no student was missing or harmed. Knowing that authority and responsibility goes together, the President also directed the reinforcement of security at all schools in line with the safe schools policy of the administration.

In a joint effort to secure the safe release of the students, and to prevent imminent occurrence, the Governor of the state, Aminu Masari, also ordered the immediate closure of all boarding secondary schools in the state and pleaded with parents to remain calm as efforts were being made by the government to ensure the safe return of the students.

These students were delivered in Tsafe, Zamfara State, and transported back home.

Despite this successful news that deserves a great applause from home and diaspora, and with the risk taken by the Nigeria armed forces, by putting their lives on line in battlefield just to rescue these boys, I am still struggling to come to terms that some disgruntled elements would even be angry that the kankara boys were released, and there abduction was in the disguise of transferring money secretly. We need not to look further in search of those that have inhumane heart for this country. We can easily pick all these dissenters and antagonists. 

The governors of Katsina and Zamfara states have affirmed and maintained their stand that no money exchanged hands to secure the release of these students on Thursday, which now raised the question of whether the kidnappers suddenly became charitable in the course of their modus operandi that we have always known them with.

Buhari is the president. If he wants to fund terrorist or bandits, all he has to do is transfer money to them from the treasury accounts via some secret transaction, or through any of his aids. Why would he need to go through all these public and international embarrassment of kidnapping 300 kids from one school in order to pay terrorists a ransom of whatever peanuts was supposedly given? There is no iota of wisdom in that. 

Abubakar Shekau had suffered lots of casualties in the past during their confrontation with the Nigeria armed forces on many occasions. This has laid their camps desolate, and they were not ready to lose the few they have left. This is also the more reason why they orchestrated the abduction of the boys, to gather fund and increase their war hands.

Meanwhile, in a video of the school children released by the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram faction, one of the schoolboys urged the government to pay their abductors a ransom and stop military rescue efforts so they could be released. It was the only request that was publicised by the terror group. They tried using his emotional manipulation as bait for the armed forces, so that they can get away easily, but they never fell for it.

In their wiles, they made the abducted boys to do video that reveals they were being held by Boko Haram. Unfortunately, the military had rounded up the bandits and the only thing left was to release the boys to government, which would allow them escape. 

In my considered opinion, I believed that intelligence reached them that, the well-trained military men under President Buhari's order, have been closing up on them very fast, and they needed to resort to using another tactic in buying more time to abscond. It is so unfortunate that the ever knowing Boko Haram right handed man, Ahmad Salkida, who claimed to also have the interest of the country at heart still could not prove his patriotism by exposing this one, but remained blind to giving any report or intelligence as regards the abduction. This further proves that he has been a tool for siphoning vital information for Boko Haram insurgents. Boko Haram had to contact untrained bandits to carry out their dirty jobs for them. Even Shekau has remained in his hiding chamber, and therefore, has been speaking from his shadow ever since.

With these steps taken, it shows that the president has the passion and commitment for the vigorous fight against this abduction, and also ready to rescue the country from what can be described as malady. President Buhari has shown his capability for rapid response improvement on security challenges facing our dear Nation, Nigeria. What we are witnessing in recent times, is as a result of the act of politicians with greed for money and power; people that are not ready to see beyond the immediate, but only care and seek after their own self-gratification. 

 I urge everyone to dismiss the reported claim by the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau that the school children were abducted by his men, observing that it is the usual propaganda of the terrorist group, they like to take credit of every notable attacks perpetuated to cause distress and unrest in the country. They have failed once again, and are brutally defeated in their bid to cause trepidation in the heart of the citizenry.

I will tell you this; "a fight against corruption is not a one stakeholder's affair."  We need to work together to fight insurgency and banditry. We refuse to be defrauded by this cheap tactics. Boko Haram is defeated and gone forever.

I stand with President Buhari to say that "We have a lot of work ahead of us and some of the things not said is to not compromise the security and the efforts being put by the law enforcement agencies. But, really, we are acutely aware of our responsibilities. Our responsibility is to secure the country, so we have a lot of work to do.

Ainoko is a public affairs analyst based in Kaduna.

Nigerian military tackling terrorism within best international standard, rules of engagement - Conflict resolution expert, journalist, Furnad

By Dansu Peter 

The Nigerian military is prosecuting the war against terrorism, banditry and other criminal vices in the country in accordance with its operational code of conduct and international best practices, an American conflict resolution expert, Daniel Furnad has said. 

According to Furnad, the troops have so far dealt with these armed groups using minimum or no force at all without violating their fundamental human rights.

He also hailed the military for giving special protection to women, children, journalists, medical personnel, internally displaced persons and other key actors caught up in the war. 

Mr Furnad made these known on Friday via Skype at a conference for CSOs, NGOs Conflict Managers Human rights activists and social media influencers, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The one-day event with the theme 'Appraising the Buhari Administration and the War Against Insurgency: the Year 2020 in Perspective' thoroughly evaluated the military's operations in the outgoing year, noting the challenges, losses and gains. 

Furnad's assertion invalidates the claims of human rights abuses against the troops by Amnesty International, Transparency International and the International Criminal Court. 

Recently, keen observers and security experts across the world accused the ICC of being compromised, following an already existing script and premeditated plot to pre-convict the Nigerian troops. 

But Funard, after a review of its operations in the last year absolved the military of any wrongdoing. 

The American journalist, though, called for improved cooperation and intelligence sharing with other nations.  

His words, "Intelligence needs to be improved; international partners sharing with Nigeria. I was glad to see Nigeria participate in US training exercise early this year in Mauritania. A lot of these exercises is about building trusts between people in different organisations and nations. Trust is what it takes to share information. 

" I am hoping that we will see better cooperation from some potentially well-equipped sources."

He, however, assured that Nigeria is very much closer to the end of terrorism. 

 "I do have confidence that Nigeria is much closer to the end of terrorism than the beginning and I think to a large extent Nigerians need to come together to support the efforts of their government and military to making Nigeria safe again". 

Kankara students' release show God's faithfulness to Nigeria, Buhari - Interfaith group

By Dansu Peter 

The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROP) has welcomed the release of abducted students of Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State. 

The NIFROP, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Bishop Sunday Garuba, on Friday, said the release is a demonstration of God's faithfulness towards Nigeria and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.  

Recall that the respected group, alongside other Nigerians had on Tueaday embarked on a one-day national prayer for the safe return of the schoolboys. 

Bishop Garuba had charged Nigerians to return to God in prayers to compliment the efforts of the gallant troops. 

And barely 48 hours after, the release was confirmed by the Katsina State Government without payment of any ransome. 

In reaction, Bishop Garuba described President Buhari as God's anointed servant who can not be disgraced by those against the interest of the country in its quest towards sustainable growth and development. 

He further thanked all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers and supplications for the safe return of the abducted boys to their families and love ones. 

On behalf of the group, Bishop Garuba also hailed the security agencies that worked tirelessly to secure the safe return of the boys.

He, however, charged all citizens to continue to pray for the administration of President Buhari against those that have constituted themselves as clogs in the wheels of the progress of the country. 

Read full statement below:

The National Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace welcomed the rescue of the abducted schoolboys from their dormitories in Kankara, Katsina State as a demonstration of Gods awesomeness towards Nigeria. 

We are stating in unequivocal terms that the rescue of the abducted boy is indeed an indication that God loves Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari. 

This is indeed a testament to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is Gods servant and can’t be disgraced by those that have elected to be against the interest of Nigeria in our quest towards sustainable growth and development. 

The National Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace is using this medium to extend its appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his display of sound leadership in ensuring that the various security agencies put in their best towards the rescue of the abducted boys. 

President Muhammadu Buhari has once again proved that his stewardship of Nigeria is in the overall interest of Nigerians and not a select few as has been the case with previous administrations in Nigeria. 

Nigerians must indeed come to terms with the realization that President Muhammadu Buhari is Gods anointed for Nigeria and therefore all those that have been plotting on ways to discredit his administration should have a rethink and change their ways for the bible states in the book of Psalms 105:15 “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”

The National Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace thank all well-meaning Nigerians for their prayers and supplications for the safe return of the abducted boys to their families and love ones. 

We consequently extend our gratitude and commendation to the security agencies that worked tirelessly to secure the safe return of the boys. They have indeed displayed tremendous acts of patriotism and commitment to the Nigerian cause. 

Our security agencies are deserving of our commendation for rising to the occasion in this critical task that saw to the safe return of the abducted boys. 

It consequently behoves on all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to pray for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari against those that have constituted themselves as clogs in the wheels of the progress of the country. 

The National Interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace shall continue to offer intercessory prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari as he leads Nigeria towards the path of sustainable growth and development. 

We are also using this medium to call on Nigerians from all walks of life to stand on the side of truth by extending their support to the lofty plans and policies of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration. 

The safe return of the abducted boys is another testimony of Gods abounding love and faithfulness to Nigeria. 

How to link your NIN number to your phone numbers with ease

By Dansu Peter 

Following the directective of the Federal Government of Nigeria to all telephone subscribers to link their phone number with the National Identity Number, NIN, here are simple step to link your NIN to your phone numbers. 

For those who have registered for the National Identity Number, NIN, dial *346# on your registered phone number with NIN to retrieve your NIN. 

MTN Users

1. Dial *785# using the MTN you wish to perform the linking on.

2. Select 1 which stands for “Enter your 11-digit NIN”

3. Enter your 11-digit NIN and send.

Wait for the network to give a confirmation of your submission. You may get a message saying “Network error.”

Don’t panic if you do! Just wait for some time and try it again.

Airtel Users

1. Dial *121*1# on the Airtel line you wish to link.

2. Type 1 for “NIN Capture” and send

Enter your 11-digit NIN and send.

Wait for the message confirming your submission. If you get an error, just wait for some time and try again.

GLO Users:

Send "Update NIN, NIN, FirstName, LastName" to 109

e.g. UpdateNIN 12345678901 Peter Dansu 

9mobile Users:

Check back

CBN Governor faces contempt charge over 182 billion judgment debt

By Dansu Peter 

A contempt charge has been instituted against the governor of the ,Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, over his alleged refusal to order payment of 182 billion naira to Ogoni people.

The 182 billion naira was awarded against oil giant, she'll petroleum over the oil spillage caused the ogony land by the company.

The ogoni  people represented by chief lucious nwosu san, filed the contempt charge praying the federal high court in abuja to commit the cbn governor to prison for allegedly disregarding order of court that awarded the money to the aggrieved ogony people.

When the matter came upon on wednesday, counsel to the ogony people lusious nwosu san, expressed displeasure over the absence of the CBN governor.

The senior counsel informed Justice Taiwo Taiwo that the charge against Emefiele is semi criminal in nature and warranted his physical presence in court to answer the charge.

However Damian Dodo SAN, counsel to Emefiele, informed the court that it was not the habit of his client to underated the court of law and assured that Emefiele will do the need at the appropriate time.

Meanwhile Shell petroleum represented by Olawale Akoni SAN, informed the court that he had filed a motion praying the court to dismissal the contempt charge or in the alternative to stay proceedings after taking arguments.

Justice tTaiwo Taiwo, while adjourning the matter, till January 27th next year, directed the CBN governor  and other parties to obey court, adding that the court expects Emefiele to obey the court on the adjourned date.

CSO writes ICC Prosecutor over misguided view on Nigerian security agencies

By Dansu Peter 

Some international civil society organisations have cautioned the International Criminal Court's Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensou over misguided utterances against the Nigerian military and sister agencies . 

The International Human Rights Protection Forum (IHRPF) gave this warning in a letter to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor on Tuesday.

In the letter signed by its Director of Communication, Zakari Yinusa, the IHRPF said the ICC pre-convicted the military, adding that it was faulty and not in tandem with any known criminal court.  

The group also expressed frustration over reports that the ICC has been compromised by Amnesty International who it claims is "pumping millions of dollars into the Chief Prosecutor's office to ensure that the military is demoralized to the extent of losing focus on the final defeat of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist groups". 

The CSO, though, assured that the Armed Force under the current dispensation over the years adhered strictly to the extant laws, rules of engagement and international best practices. 

"As far as we are concerned, the position you have taken is a subtle way of casting aspersions on the military while at the same time strengthening the terrorists and their sympathizers to keep unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens," the letter stated in part. 

The group, however, advised the ICC Chief Prosecutor to retrace her steps and stop being used against Nigeria. 

It added that "we shall prevail on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami SAN through civil actions to cease further cooperation with the International Criminal Court in terms of exchange of classified national security information or legal documents".

Read full letter below:

As a strategic partner with the International Criminal Court (ICC), our International Human Rights Protection Forum (IHRPF) has always advocated that perpetrators of terrible crimes against the human race must be held to account. To this end, we closely monitored the recent #EndSARS Protests in Nigeria and forwarded not less than three different Criminal Complaints to your office against various individuals, groups and institutions found complicit in escalating the crises which almost ruined our dear country. We are aware that other human right organizations equally wrote and supplied avalanche of incriminating pieces of evidence against some non-state actors for fueling the ill-fated #EndSARS Protests.  

Our expectation is that as the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, you would within this period that Nigeria is struggling to recover from the severe pains inflicted on her citizens and economy, concentrate on adequately considering the multiple Criminal Complaints piling on your table with a view to bringing the identified culprits to book. Regrettably, you seem to have abandoned the noble purpose for which the ICC was established and allowed yourself to be used by Amnesty International to complicate the precarious security situation in Nigeria. We submit that by all standards, the hasty manner in which the Nigerian Security Forces were pre-convicted through your media pronouncement on Friday, 11th December, 2020 is faulty and not in tandem with any known International Criminal Law, Instrument or Protocol. 

We are surprised that it took you over a decade to analyze the bunch of lies sold to ICC by Amnesty International before coming to the so called conclusion that there is reasonable basis to believe that “members of the Nigerian Security Forces (NSF) have committed acts constituting crimes against humanity and war crimes”. Experience should have taught you that Amnesty International had been working desperately with other foreign enemies to give the Nigerian Security Forces a bad name in order to hang them. A situation whereby you allow leaders of Boko Haram as well as notorious criminals like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who continually rebel constituted authorities in Nigeria to move freely across the world but rather choose to declare cold legal war against the Nigerian Security Forces is rather unfortunate, wicked and suspicious. It goes to buttress the assertion in various quarters that Amnesty International has been pumping millions of dollars into your office to ensure that the military is demoralized to the extent of losing focus on the final defeat of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist groups.

Our investigations also reveal that Nigerian Armed Forces under the current dispensation in carrying out counter terrorism operations within the North East and other parts of the country have over the years ensured that their troops do everything possible to adhere strictly to the extant laws, rules of engagement and international best practices. On no account shall we allow the ICC to dampen the morale of military troops who have been fighting tirelessly to keep Nigeria and her people safe. As far as we are concerned, the position you have taken is a subtle way of casting aspersions on the military while at the same time strengthening the terrorists and their sympathizers to keep unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens. This we condemn in its entirety and call on other sister organizations to join in the struggle to save Nigeria from another foreign oppression.

Until you retrace your steps from being used against Nigeria, we shall prevail on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami SAN through civil actions to cease further cooperation with the International Criminal Court in terms of exchange of classified national security information or legal documents. We will equally prevail on the Federal Republic of Nigeria to opt-out of being a signatory to the Rome Statute and adopt a new policy of protecting her military personnel, officials, and nationals from your illegitimate use of the powers inherent in the ICC. After all, the core issues of when Nigeria can lawfully resort to armed force, how that force may be applied, and whether particular actions constitute serious international offences of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide are duly covered by local laws. 

In particular, Section 217 (1) and (2) (a) – (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) no doubt clothes the Armed Forces with the authority to take charge of defending Nigeria from external aggression, maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea or air. The Armed Forces are also empowered to suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. Section 3 of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 fortifies the powers of the Armed Forces when it provides that they shall be charged with the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by land, sea and air and with such other duties as the National Assembly may from time to time prescribe or direct by an Act.

On the whole, we urge you to always maintain neutrality in handling affairs of State parties. The need for the ICC to remain accountable to the United Nations Security Council in line with Chapter 5, Article 24 (1) of the UN Charter for purposes of maintaining international peace and security cannot be overemphasized. Massive atrocities have been committed by terrorists in Nigeria under your nose yet you kept mute, only to regain your voice where the military is mentioned. It is, therefore, our prayer that you take urgent steps to correct the erroneous impression which your publication has made concerning the hitherto highly esteemed reputation of the ICC. The best thing we envisage from your office in the coming days is to prove to the world that ICC is indeed not being subjected to undue pressure from Western Nations hiding under the cover of Amnesty International to bankroll the hatchet job of throwing Nigeria into complete anarchy through the promotion of terrorist activities.

We do hope that you will be properly guided!