THE UPSURGE IN TERRORISM
The Presidency’s response to the recent Amnesty International report on human rights abuse by our military ,might have been indirectly responsible for the upper hand gained by Boko Haram in the last few weeks as the statement is capable of reducing troops morale and distracting officers at the front line.
We would recall AI’s recent report generated so much anger in the military and got the Nigerian Army reacting swiftly and condemning the agency of unnecessary meddlesomeness . The report clearly indicted so many soldiers from General Ihejirika up until the current Chiefs of Defence and Army staff. The Army responded by stating that it has continually investigated Amnesty Internationals allegations and punished offenders according to military laws. The Nigerian Army in their denial lambasted AI and clearly stated that these allegations are capable of dampening troops morale on the fields.
As part of its response, General Olukolade said “It is clear that Amnesty International (AI) 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”
A top military officer speaking on anonymity to the Guardian newspaper a few days after the report surfaced said the following:
“I don't know whether Nigerians actually know the implications of this report. The accusations and its ramifications go beyond the normal tour of duty. Commanders on the field will now have to worry if they are free to do this job of containing Boko Haram without these unending accusations. We are at a loss as to where this leads us now. Imagine you are on the frontlines of the war against Boko Haram and you get the news of this, how will you feel?Let's keep aside the basics of the accusations. It leaves you wondering if you are still free to do your job without unsubstantiated accusations hanging over our heads. How would the officers mentioned feel now? Do Nigerians really know what we go through in the frontlines? Do Nigerians know the implications of this report vis-à-vis the fight against Boko Haram? How will it affect morale of commanders and troops in the battlefield? Would it not look like tying the hands of military commanders, tying their hands while allowing terrorists free rein in their murderous violence?
“Why is Amnesty not involved in commenting on conduct of military operations in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan the way it has always focused on Nigeria? Why would it not devote just one of these reports on the atrocities and mindless violence of Boko Haram? What is Amnesty's or Western nations' interest in Nigerian military? Are these reports a ploy to humiliate or weaken the resolve of military commanders or a concerted script to act out a pre-conceived script? Seriously, it looks like Amnesty has become an extension of the programmes of some Western countries who could not see any achievement by the Nigerian military except as feats possible only through alleged human rights abuses.
“But we know that there are elements within and outside Nigeria who are bent on weakening the military, especially the Army, in order to foist their own agenda on Nigeria? There are many organisations working in Nigeria and empowered solely to collate any information on the Nigerian Army that is negative. And any such information is usually paid for. These are Boko Haram sympathisers masquerading as human rights groups.”
But in a surprising move, the Presidency’s response seemed to pander to Amnesty International and propitiate towards the western powers as the statement sent shivers down the spines of officers. In his speech, the President said he will hand over the amnesty international report to the attorney generals office rather than allowing the military investigate the allegations.
If a drop in troops morale is not the cause of the recent setback, why has a terrorist group that was almost flushed out completely before the elections become so daring now as they roam villages killing people\ almost unhindered?
I understand that the Presidential spokesmen are new and eager to release statements, but I think they must not respond to everything especially in such a patronising manner. Amnesty International has often made these allegations and they probably rephrased their words in this new report, but there is nothing actually new in the report that they didn’t write in their September 2014 report.
We should realise that our military officers are placing their lives on the firing line daily and everything must be done to lift their morales and give them support.
The truth is that we were almost winning this war without much support and military weapons from the Western powers. The cooperation from Chad, Niger, Cameroon and some mercenaries was really producing awesome results before this current set back, so all we have to do now is to maintain the tempo.
Although we owe a moral obligation to support President Buhari in this was against terrorists. However, the Presidency must also show confidence in the military. After the military had responded to the allegations, I think the Presidency would have expressed confidence in the Nigerian Army if they had to respond further.
God will help us.
Written by Ken Agala.
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