FG to Amnesty: Your report didn’t conform to local, international standards

The federal government says the 2016 report by Amnesty International (AI) did not conform to local and international standards.

On February 22, AI in a report accused the military and other security agencies of extra-judicial killings.

“In south-east Nigeria, security forces led by the military, embarked on a chilling campaign of arbitrary arrests, extra-judicial executions and enforced disappearances,” the report read.

“Many individuals are still being detained incommunicado while state security agents have killed at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters.”

But in a statement, Clement Aduku, spokesman of the foreign affairs ministry, wondered why the report failed to condemn the atrocities committed by terrorist groups.

The ministry also queried why AI failed to subject its report to wide consultations and in-depth engagement, in line with best practices.

“Such omission made the scenario captured in the report itself to totally lack conformity to both local and international standards. The federal government does not, and will not condone, the brazen and needless display of lack of regard for constituted authority by any unlawful groups,” the statement by Aduku read.

“Accordingly, no persons or group of persons will be allowed to destabilize the peace, stability and security, or jeopardise the unity and sovereign existence of Nigeria. No matter how highly placed and the level of external support such individuals or group of persons enjoy.

“Nonetheless, if any security personnel are found to have flouted the rules of engagement, or acted unprofessionally, such officers would be punished in accordance with the provisions of the law. Nigeria remains committed to the freedom of expression and association, peaceful assembly and protest within the confines of the law.

“On lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTI), the inviolability of the enactment of the national assembly and the sovereign right of Nigerians expressed through their religious-cum-ethical values and cultural rights must be respected by all.”