NATIONAL: Don’t be demoralised by ICC, Amnesty’s call for probe, Buratai tells Army

THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has urged the Nigerian Army troops fighting insurgency in the North-Eastern part of the country not to be demoralised by the press release from the prosecutor general of the International Criminal Court.

Buratai, who is in self-isolation as part of precautions against Covid-19, assured the troop of his moral support even as he is in the mandatory isolation.

He, however, urged the troops to keep working hard and “be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rules of Engagement, the Code of Conduct and the Standing Operating Procedures for all Nigerian Army Operations.”

A statement issued today by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Sagir Musa, read, “The Nigerian Army’s attention has been drawn to a Press Release by the Prosecutor General of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday 12 December 2020, alleging that she has found a reasonable basis to believe that “members of the Nigerian Security Forces (“NSF”)” have committed acts constituting crimes against humanity and war crimes.

“This was immediately followed by a release by the local branch of Amnesty International (AI) in Nigeria “demanding full investigation of atrocities by Nigerian forces.”

It added, “There is no doubt such statement and instigation can distract the Nigerian Army troops with its demoralising effects. It will have negative consequences on troops’ morale, interest in military service by Nigerians and severe setback to all our internal security operations in the country.

However, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TY Buratai, enjoins Nigerian Army troops to ignore the distractions and call on the gallant troops never to be worried or demoralised by these moves.

“The COAS who is currently in self-isolation as part of precaution against the COVID-19, would soon be joining our gallant troops in the North East at the end of the mandatory isolation period to continue giving the desired leadership and support to the gallant and patriotic troops of the Nigerian Army.”

The statement urged the troops to ignore what it described as “wicked, unnecessary distractions” and concentrate on how to decimate the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists group.

According to the statement, the Nigerian Army has displayed professionalism in the course of doing his constitutional duties.

“The COAS wishes to assure and reiterate that the Nigerian Army is not only protecting human rights but also sustaining human rights nationally and globally.

“Our professional conduct over the years and most recently during the #EndSARS protest at Lekki Village near Lagos are clear testimonies to the Nigerian Army’s posture on promoting sustainable human rights policy.”

The statement concluded, “The Nigerian Army wishes to advise local or international organisations not to allow themselves be used to destabilise or destroy the troops’ morale by the sponsors of mischief in Nigeria.”