Shiites: DHQ warns Amnesty International against malicious reports on Nigerian Military

The Defence headquarters on Thursday described Amnesty
International reports on the clash between Shiites and soldiers in
some parts of Abuja as absolute falsehood and should be
disregarded.

A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brig
Gen John Agim said the report by AI was not the true reflection of
things and wondered why the international body always come with
negative narration on the security situation in the country.

The statement read, :”The Defence Headquarters wishes to respond
to Amnesty International (AI) reports in which the group alleged
that the Nigerian military and the police engaged in horrific use
of excessive force that led to the killing of members of the
Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ites
during ‘peaceful’ protests.

“The worrisome narrative of the Amnesty International (AI) in
matters of national security and cohesion of Nigeria has continued
unabated in spite of verifiable evidences to the contrary.

“The Amnesty international’s hate and disdain for peaceful
co-existence of Nigerians is manifested in the ways it consistently
fabricates lies and gives negative narrative of issues related to
Nigeria’s national security and its military. The AI report is not
a true reflection of what transpired in the last few days.

“For the sake of the good people of Nigeria and the
international community who quest for the truth, what the AI
“cooked up” in that report is a figment of its own imagination to
further paint Nigeria black among the comity of nations.

“The military has never been sent to stop the protesting
Shi’ites group at any given time. On the events referred to by the
AI, the soldiers were not after the protesting Shi’ites, neither
was there such number of casualties.

“Instead, a convoy from the Army Headquarters Garrison Abuja was
conducting a routine shipment of ammunition and missiles to a
military formation in Kaduna escorted by troops when they ran into
the protesters at Zuba in FCT.

” The protesting Shi’ites prevented the convoy from proceeding
on its mission but rather attempted to overrun the escorts to cart
away the shipment.

“Hence, the troops had to protect the goods and extricate
themselves from the imminent mob action by applying minimum
force.

“The following day, the IMN also had another confrontation with
the military at a popular checkpoint along Nyanya – Mararaba road
leading into the FCT.

“Everyone living in or transiting the FCT knows that the
military checkpoint had been established since 2014 after the Boko
Haram Terrorist attack on Nyanya Motor Park.

“Unfortunately, the group tried to overrun the checkpoint in
which the military resisted. In all these attacks, the IMN was the
aggressor while the military only acted in self defence.

“The Shi’ites actions were planned and premeditated as the group
were aware of the existence of the military checkpoint and were
prepared to confront the soldiers.

“The casualty of IMN stands at 4 wounded and 3 dead at Zuba
while at the Nyanya – Mararaba road checkpoint, 3 died with 3
wounded. The military also had 6 of its personnel seriously wounded
and currently at intensive care.

“The DHQ wishes to emphasize for the umpteenth time that the
narratives of the AI are outright falsehoods and calculated
attempts at whipping up sentiments and misleading unsuspecting
Nigerians as well as demoralizing friendly nations. The
organization has continued to churn out reports that are outside
the confines of the principles of objectivity, truth and balance
reportage which provides all sides to the story the way it
happened.

“Sadly, AI’s past activities in Nigeria and its negative
reportorial of the Nigerian Armed Forces is capable of emboldening
the IMN in its unwholesome activities.

“Also, what AI is doing could stop friendly nations from
collaborating with Nigeria in its war against insurgency. The
intentions of AI in Nigeria have remained suspect as the
organization is always silent on the other side of issues.

“Nigerians who witnessed how military troops on legitimate duty
came under unprovoked attacks from IMN members both in Zuba area of
the FCT on Sunday, 28 October 2018 and at a security checkpoint in
Mararaba, Nasarawa State on Monday, 29 October 2018 have videos and
images of wounded soldiers and damaged military vehicles with audio
commentaries. These are available in the public domain.

“Unfortunately, Amnesty International did not see anything wrong
with these unprovoked subversive attacks on Nigerian military and
other innocent passersby but was quick to refer to the activities
of IMN from whom dangerous weapons and ammunition including
Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), guns, knives and cutlasses were
recovered as a peaceful protest.

“This goes further to prove the point that Amnesty International
does not mean well for Nigeria. This is also in tandem with their
previous reputation of denigrating the security forces anytime they
make gains against the forces of evil to incite the Nigerian public
and international community against the Military.

“The Defence Headquarters wishes to appeal to the general public
and the international community not to be carried away with AI’s
usual falsehood and blackmail which is calculated towards promoting
the forces of darkness to destabilize Nigeria.”