A group, the Borno/Yobe Forum, has called for a judicial commission of enquiry on the war crime allegations against the military by the Amnesty International (AI).
AI, on June 3, released two reports on the situation in the Northeast. The first report entitled: “Our Job is to shoot, slaughter and Kill”, narrates the murderous activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.
The second report entitled: “Stars on their shoulders, blood on their hands”, gives account of alleged brutal operations of the armed forces in the attempt to contain the insurgency.
The report alleged that more than 1,200 people were extra-judicially executed and over 20,000 young men arrested, detained and tortured.
Over 7,000 were said to have died in detention as a result of starvation, torture and extreme overcrowding.
The reports liken the alleged gross human rights abuses to war crimes, especially as they took place in non-armed international conflicts.
The group said it welcomes the reports as they are a confirmation of what they and Borno and Yobe elders had earlier complained about.
It said they had consistently spoken on and called the attention of the government and international community to the rights abuses “with a view to drawing the attention of the armed forces to respect the rights and dignity of our people and observe strictly the rules of engagements in their operations.”
The body said documented incidences of arbitrary arrests, rape, detention and wanton destruction of lives and property have been secured and presented as proof of the alleged excesses of the military.
According to the group, the reports did not even tell the full story.
“While commending the Amnesty International for turning in these two reports, we make bold to say that the reports did not sufficiently cover or correctly capture all the horrendous activities of the Boko Haram and the horrific activities of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the Northeast.
“The Borno/Yobe and Elders Forum have several times written, visited relevant government agencies and addressed news conferences all with a view to making the Nigerian Armed Forces respect the sanctity of lives of our people who have been subjected to double jeopardy as a result of the condemnable, absolutely objectionable Boko Haram attacks and the harassment, intimidation, torture and extra-judicial killings by the military, which seem to have passed a verdict of collective guilt on our people.
“We in the Borno/Yobe Forum unequivocally condemn the Boko Haram insurgents and all that they represent, believing that their criminal campaign of hate and mass murder stand against the universal teachings of Islam, which is anchored on peace and peaceful co-existence and respect for the sanctity of life,” the group said.
It added that the reports expose the murderous antics of Boko Haram on the one hand, and the gross trampling of the rights of the people in the Northeast especially Borno and Yobe states by the institutions that are supposed to protect their lives and guard their property on the other.
“In the light of this, we are calling on the Federal Government to as soon as possible institute a judicial commission of enquiry to investigate and bring to book all individuals and groups however highly placed found culpable in this despicable and reprehensible conduct.
“We note that since the start of the insurgency, hundreds of our patriotic military and security personnel have lost their lives, while scores have been maimed and injured in the course of serving our dear country.
“We commiserate with their families and extend deep condolences while wishing the injured quick recovery. We extend similar condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives as a result Boko Haram attacks or the excesses of the Military, and wish the maimed and the injured speedy recovery,” the group said.