Army: We didn’t kill defenceless agitators but averted threats to national security

The Nigerian Army has denied killing peaceful pro-Biafra activists, as alleged by Amnesty International (AI).

The human rights group had released a report on Wednesday, accusing the army of killing 150 pro-Biafra protesters in the southeast of Nigeria.

An analysis of 87 videos, 122 photographs, and 146 eyewitness testimonies, AI said, suggest that the army fired live ammunition at demonstrators between August 2015 and August 2016.

The army, while denying the report, said Amnesty International is intent on dabbling into the national security of Nigeria.

Sani Usman, army spokesperson, noted that the allegation is an attempt to “tarnish the reputation of the security forces” while stating that the Nigerian army’s actions towards the agitators have always been in defence of the security of the nation.

“We wish to debunk the insinuation that our troops perpetrated the killing of defenceless agitators. This is an outright attempt to tarnish the reputation of the security forces in general and the Army in particular, for whatever inexplicable parochial reasons.

“For the umpteenth time, the Army has informed the public about the heinous intent of this non-governmental organisation (NGO), which is never relenting in dabbling into our national security in manners that obliterate objectivity, fairness and simple logic.

“The evidence of MASSOB/IPOB violent secessionist agitations is widely known across the national and international domains.

“Their modus operandi has continued to relish violence that threatens national security. Indeed, between August 2015 and August 2016, the groups’ violent protests have manifested unimaginable atrocities to unleash the reign of peace, security and stability in several parts of the Southeast.

“A number of persons from the settler communities, who hailed from other parts of the country, were selected for attacks – killed and burnt.

“Such a reign of hate, terror and ethno-religious controversies that portend grave consequences for national security have been averted severally through the responsiveness of the Army and members of the security agencies.”