The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Amnesty International

  • Group holds protest against Amnesty International

    Leadership of the Democracy Watch Africa has frowned at the planned RevolutionNow Protest and the need for caution to avoid overheating the polity in Nigeria.

     

     

    The umbrella body of over 30 Civil Society Organizations in West Africa said the planned protest is a grave misdemeanour that must be viewed from the prism of treason against the Nigerian nation as there are from all indication no justification whatsoever to warrant such a despicable act under whatever guise.

     

     

     

    The group gave the warning at a rally held Freedom Park, Lagos on Monday in reaction to the planned protest.

     

    Josephine Okpara, President of the group, who spoke during the protest, also demanded the expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria.

     

    Opara fingered Amnesty International as the sponsors of the planned revolution.

     

    He speech below.

     

    The Democracy Watch Africanwing the umbrella body of over 30 Civil Society Organizations in West Africa arising from its emergency extraordinary general meeting held in Lagos- Nigeria on Sunday August 4, 2019  to review the state of the nation vis-a-viz the planned nationwide protest under that tag of RevolutionNow, wishes to state that the organizers of the planned protest are acting against the interest of Nigeria as a country and Nigerians as a people under the active support of some external forces that are bent on destabilizing the country.

     

    The planned protest is a grave misdemeanour that must be viewed from the prism of treason against the Nigerian nation as there are from all indication no justification whatsoever to warrant such a despicable act under whatever guise.

     

    The Democracy Watch Africa views such actions as despicable, ill-timed, mischievous and orchestration of some external forces who have some collaborators in Nigeria like the Amnesty International whose actions in recent times have indicated that their mission in Nigeria is to cause disaffection and mutual suspicion between the government and the people.

     

    In the light of the fact that the calls for a revolution in Nigeria is the handiwork of the enemies of Nigeria, the Democracy Watch Africa wishes to bring to the attention of Nigerians that the real protest should be against the expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria, whose presence in Nigeria has caused more harm than good through their nefarious activities.

     

    Amnesty International has a history of causing disaffection and misgivings in all the countries they have offices, and the case of Nigeria is not any different as evident in their yearly reports and public statements that have been critical of policies of the government of Nigeria in instances too numerous to mention.

     

    It will indeed be a great shame on us as a people if we as Nigerians fall for the booby-trap set for us by Amnesty International and their paymasters in Nigeria and other parts of the world towards ensuring that Nigeria does not experience peace and progress.

     

     

    Democracy Watch Africa is appalled by the temerity of Amnesty International to instigate the people against the government and wonders how the relevant authorities in Nigeria allow such heist to fester unabated over the years.

     

    It is an undeniable fact that Nigeria is a sovereign nation that has made substantial progress in the past four years in critical sectors of our economy against the predictions of those that do not wish us well. Also, from all indications, they have resorted to other unorthodox means to actualize their evil plot against the continued existence of Nigeria as a country.

     

    Nigerians must see through this evil plot and realize that this generation and indeed the unborn generation have nowhere to call home and as such we must rise to the occasion in one voice and resist every form of manipulation that would see to the disintegration of the country.

     

    The likes of Amnesty International must be resisted with all of our strength in the true Nigerian spirit, as stated in the National Anthem and pledge. We as Nigerians must renew the promise to Nigeria our country, to be faithful, loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria with all of our strength, to defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory through thick and thin. Also, all times.

     

    The Democracy Watch Africa sees no other time than now to defend the unity of Nigeria and protect Nigeria from the hawks and cankerworms hell-bent on seeing to the demise of those values that define and unite us as a people and as a nation.

     

    The covert campaign orchestrated by Amnesty International as manifest in the RevolutionNow planned must be resisted in its totality and as a matter of urgency begin a nationwide protest for the expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria.

     

    The Democracy Watch Africa is using this medium to call for the speedy expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria if we are desirous of remaining as a united country now and the years to come.

     

    The Democracy Watch  Africa also calls on all well-meaning Nigerians to renounce the RevolutionNow protest in its entirety and instead demand for the expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria.

     

    The relevant authorities must act now in the overall interest of the people and the nation. The relevant stakeholders in Nigeria must take this task upon themselves to say enough is enough to the detractors of Nigeria for we cannot sit and watch some unscrupulous elements truncate our nascent democracy and jeopardize the future of the millions of Nigerians.

     

    Democracy Watch Africa warns that should Nigerians allow themselves to be used in this destabilization plot, posterity would not be kind to us, and we would not be able to forgive ourselves.

     

    The time to act is now for the expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria. Nigerians must speak in one voice and under one umbrella in this critical point of our existence. The true Nigerian spirit must be brought to bear to shame our detractors.

     

    Democracy Watch Africa demands in unequivocal terms for the expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria in our quest for sustainable growth and development. So help us, God.

     

  • 841 on trial, 68 convicted in 11 states over killings

    Fed Govt tackles Atiku, Amnesty

    Those who claim that no suspect has been held for the killings in the land are wrong, the Federal Government said yesterday.

    It tendered facts and figures to back its claim.

    In all, 947 suspects have been arrested in connection with the farmers-herders clashes. Of the lot, 841 are being prosecuted. In fact, 68 of the accused persons have been convicted.

    The suspects were arrested in 11 states –  Taraba, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, Zamfara, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno and Katsina.

    Amnesty International (AI), which alleged that the government’s failure to investigate and bring to justice killers, fuelled the farmers-herders clashes, also got a reply  –  you are not right, the government said.

    Also, the government blasted the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for claiming that killings will continue if President Muhammadu Buhari is re-elected.

    Atiku had said the Federal Government lacked the capacity to address the security challenges confronting the nation.

    He spoke in a statement by his communication adviser Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday, while reacting to the latest report by Amnesty International which accused the government of impunity.

    Atiku was quoted as saying: “It is now very clear, like Amnesty International said in its report, that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed gross incompetence and has failed in its duty to protect the lives of its population, which has witnessed many preventable deaths and lost many good hands.”

    It accused Atiku of bad politicking and desperation for power.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, who made the government’s position known at a briefing in Abuja, said there had been drastic reduction in killings resulting from the farmers-herders clashes.

    He said:  ”Let me say that I have gone through the statement by the Amnesty International on this. One thing they got right in their report is the cause of the killings. Amnesty said the root cause of this conflict has nothing to do with religion or ethnicity; and that it is largely about land and access to grazing.

    “That is correct and confirms what we have been saying that the clashes are a result of environmental factors that have made the contest for resources, especially land and water, very keen; demographic factors and, sometimes, sheer criminality.

    “But they are wrong, very wrong to suggest that the government has done nothing to stem the killings. I think their report is largely outdated.

    “Everyone knows that the killings resulting from the farmers-herders clashes, and indeed killings from cattle rustling and other causes, have gone down drastically. This didn’t happen by accident, but by a concerted and determined efforts by the Buhari Administration. Let me list some of the actions that led to the drastic reduction in the killings:

    • Deployment of a Joint Military Intervention Force (JMIF), comprising Regular and Special Forces personnel from the Army, Air Force and Navy, and working in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Security (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
    • Establishment of the Army’s 2 Battalion Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kanfanin Doka Village, Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State.
    • Establishment of a new Area Command and two additional Divisional Police Headquarters in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
    • Establishment by Nigerian Air Force of Quick Response Wings (QRW) in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states, and deployment of Special Forces to these Quick Response Wings.
    • The inauguration, by the Nigeria Police Force, of a new Mobile Squadron in Takum, Taraba State and Operation ‘Whirl Stroke’, operating in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara states, to tackle the menace of armed herdsmen, cattle rustlers, communal militias, kidnappers and other bandits.

    Mohammed also released a fact-sheet on the suspects arrested and prosecuted over the farmers-herders crises and those prosecuted.

    He said the records are available for Amnesty International to verify with the police and the court.

    He added: “Amnesty also accused the government of lethargy, saying this has allowed impunity to flourish. Again, they got it wrong

    “Apart from taking concrete measures to end the killings, as I have stated above, there have been arrests and prosecution of offenders. Let me give instances

    • Taraba:  49  arrested and 42 being prosecuted
    • Plateau:  43 arrested and 31 being prosecuted
    • Benue: 120  arrested, 81 prosecuted and 68 convicted
    • Niger:  47  arrested and 40 being prosecuted
    • Zamfara:  172  arrested and 162 being prosecuted
    • Nasarawa:  43 arrested and 40 being prosecuted
    • Adamawa:  38  arrested and 34 being prosecuted
    • Yobe: 42  arrested and 38  being prosecuted
    • Borno: 40  arrested and 36 being prosecuted
    • Katsina:  49 arrested and 46 being prosecuted
    • Kogi:  23  arrested and 20  being prosecuted
    • Operation Absolute Sanity in North-East and North-Central: 158 arrested and 150  being prosecuted
    • IGP’s Intelligence Response Team  arrested 123 and  prosecuting 121

    “You can now see that the alleged government inaction is not true. I think Amnesty International should update its report to reflect the present reality, which is that the killings from the herders-farmers clashes have thinned down because of concerted efforts by the FG and that perpetrators of the killings are being brought to justice.”

    The Minister condemned the PDP presidential candidate for claiming that killings will continue if Buhari is re-elected.

    He accused Atiku of bad faith and desperation for power.

    Mohammed said: “This amounts to politicisation of the killings and bad politicking and it is totally unacceptable. If it is indeed true that the former Vice President said that, it must be an act of desperation due to his floundering campaign. It is clear to all Nigerians that the electioneering campaign of the PDP presidential candidate has failed to gain traction.

    “From Sokoto to Ilorin to Ibadan to Gombe, it has been a disastrous outing for the campaign. With that magnitude of failure, anyone can say anything to stay afloat.”

    Mohammed denied a report by New York Times alleging indiscriminate killing of Shiite protesters in Abuja.

    He said the government has respect for the sanctity of life.

    Notwithstanding, he promised that the government will study the report and the video clip referred to by “New York Times”.

    He said: “I have read the report and watched the video. First, let me say that as an administration that believes in the sanctity of life and the rule of law, the Nigerian government does not and will never condone extrajudicial killings or the willful violation of the rights of its citizens.

    “This does not define who we are as a government. In this regard, the government will study the report and the video with a view to determining their authenticity and taking necessary actions.”

    He warned against a campaign of calumny to demoralise Nigerian troops

    “But the bigger picture must not be lost on us. There seems to be a choreographed campaign to demoralise our military. This is dangerous, considering their sacrifice, gallantry and patriotism. Thanks to our men and women in uniform, we sleep with our two eyes closed at night.

    “We must be careful not to do anything that will kill their morale, thus hampering the fight against terror, which they have prosecuted with tremendous success since this administration assumed office.

    “For example, when we suffered a setback recently with the killing of our troops in Metele by Boko Haram, we didn’t see the kind of outrageous reports that we normally see when Amnesty International or a section of the foreign media writes to condemn the Nigerian military. There was no widespread condemnation of Boko Haram.

    “I think the impression must not be given that our military is a target of attacks by the human rights organisations and the media, especially the foreign media.”

  • Tiv leader faults Army’s reactions to Amnesty Int’l report

    The President – General of Mzough – U- Tiv (MUT), a Tiv  social- cultural organisation Engr. Edward Ujege has thrown his weight behind the Amnesty International report over killings in Nigeria .

    Amnesty International, in its current report on the country, claimed the herders –farmers’ clashes have recorded 3,641 deaths.

    But the Army accused the rights group of planning to destabilise Nigeria.

    In an interview with our correspondent in his Makurdi residence, Ujege, who spoke on behalf of Benue tribal leaders, stated that in Benue state alone 2000 deaths were recorded during the herders/ farmers clashes.

    “We have the statistics and names of those killed, the Army has no statistics so they should not argue over the Amnesty International figures,” Ujege stated.

    He urged the Army to establish a statistics department to properly counter what the Amnesty International put before the public, accusing the military of arguing blindly.

    “The Amnesty International releases  figures but instead of reacting to the main issues the Army are rather talking of destabilising the country, which is out of place. Let them bring their record and if no one is killed during the clashes led them said it, “the Tiv leader said.

    On the Army report that over 234,000 Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) have returned to their homes in Benue state, Ujege said more victims of herdsmen attacks were still in various IDPs camps .

    “We commend Operation whirl stroke (OPWS) for its mission in Benue but ask for more.

    “No farmer is supposed to be in IDPs camp in Benue. So I urge the Army to do more as the people in Internally Displaced Person camps( IDPs) spread across Benue are more than those who have returned home.”

    He said Benue felt neglected by the Federal Government because throughout the massive attacks and killings of harmless farmers, no security officials attempted to stop the destruction of lives and property.

  • AI’s damning report angers Buhari, Army

    Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria was battling yesterday to fend off a major credibility crisis after the military rejected its report on attacks.

    The army accused the rights group of planning to destabilise Nigeria by claiming that 3,641 deaths were recorded in herders/farmers clashes. It called for its expulsion.

    But the organisation insisted on the integrity of tis reports and dismissed the army’s position as “empty threats”.

    President Muhammadu Buhari joined the fray. His opinion  – AI’s operations seem to be dampening the military’s morale.

    In a statement yesterday, Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman said AI’s attempt to destabilise the nation was noted through fabrication of fictitious allegations of alleged human rights abuses against security forces.

    Gen. Usman also alleged that AI had engaged in clandestine sponsorship of dissident groups to protest against the leadership of the military against who unfounded allegations were reportedly leveled.

    A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Enough is Enough, and BudgIT) have recently called for the probing of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) over the funding of the war against terrorism and other crimes in the country.

    Read also: Fixing crude oil refining business in Nigeria

    The CSOs alleged that the army had not made commensurate achievement in the fight in line with the huge fund the Federal Government allocated to it.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai,  explained that some of the allocated funds had no cash backing yet and, therefore, not at the disposal of the military.

    Gen. Usman said the local branch of AI, which was hitherto well-respected, had deviated from the core values, principles and objectives of the original parent body in the United Kingdom.

    The military spokesman said: “They have tried over the years, using Boko Haram terrorists’ conflicts, Islamic Movement in Nigeria, some activists and now herders-farmers conflicts.

    “The NGO is at the verge of releasing yet another concocted report against the military, ostensibly against the Nigerian Army.

    “Consequently, Nigerians should be wary of Amnesty International (Nigeria) because its goals are to destabilise Nigeria and to dismember it.

    “The Nigerian Army has no option than to call for the closure of Amnesty International offices in Nigeria, if such recklessness continues.”

    AI dismissed the military’s threat to seal its offices in the country.

    The body said there was nothing to worry over on the military’s verdict that its activities were subversive.

    AI was responding to the army’s reaction to its report on the death toll recorded in the farmers/herders’ clashes in the last three years.

    AI Nigeria Chairman Auwal Rafsanjani said nobody could stop the organisation from documenting and monitoring human rights violations, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere.

    Speaking yesterday at the unveiling of its report “Harvest of death: three years of bloody clashes between herders and farmers”, Rafsanjani said: “Our response to the threat of the military; just like they have threatened to shut down UNICEF activities in the Northeast, I think that rather than this unnecessary hostility on issues that affect all of us as human beings, we will rather advice the military to look at the recommendations that we have provided. Threatening to shut down the operations of AI Nigeria is not the solution to the continued violence, conflicts and criminality we are seeing in Nigeria.

    “We are not a threat, we are rather partners in progress, addressing the lapses of human rights violations but to come and be threatening things that you cannot even stop is a waste of time; nobody can stop AI from documenting and monitoring human rights violations, whether in Nigeria or outside the country, so this is not a threat that really worries us, it is just an empty threat.”

    AI’s Country Director Osai Ojigho said the organisation want the government to live up to its responsibilities, so that if anyone commits a crime, he is arrested and dealth with.

    Ojigho stated that the report showed how the government’s inaction fuelled impunity, resulting in attacks and reprisal attacks, with no fewer than 3,641 people killed between January 2016 and October 2018, 57 per cent of them in 2018 alone.

    She said AI visited 56 communities in Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba and Zamfara states affected by these clashes and conducted 262 interviews, including remotely with members of communities in Nasarawa and Plateau states.

    Her words: “This report documents the violent clashes between members of farmer communities and members of herder communities in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the northern parts of the country, over access to resources: water and pasture. It also documents the failure of the Nigerian government in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of protection of lives and property by refusing to investigate, arrest and prosecute perpetrators of attacks.

    “The report shows how government’s inaction fuels impunity, resulting in attacks and reprisal attacks, with at least 3,641 people killed between January 2016 and October 2018, 57 per cent of them in 2018 alone.

    “AI visited 56 communities in Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba and Zamfara states affected by the clashes and conducted 262 interviews, including remotely with members of communities in Nasarawa and Ptateau states.”

  • Operation dampening military’s morale, says President

    President Muhammadu Buhari believes the operations of the Amnesty International (AI) in Nigeria appear to be damaging the military’s morale.

    He is worried over the organisation’s role in the war against terrorism, with its action creating the impression that Nigeria is fighting two wars – against Boko Haram and Amnesty International.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, urged the leadership of the international organisation to always scrutinise its advocacy, especially as it relates to the war against terrorism.

    The statement reads: “While President Muhammadu Buhari cherishes and encourages the noble ideals on which institutions like Amnesty International are founded, the organisation’s operations in Nigeria seem geared towards damaging the morale of the Nigerian military.

    “The Federal Government is increasingly concerned about the role that Amnesty International is playing in the war against terror in Nigeria.

    “While President Muhammadu Buhari cherishes and encourages the noble ideals on which institutions like Amnesty International are founded, the organisation’s operations in Nigeria seem geared towards damaging the morale of the Nigerian military.

    “It often appears as if the Nigerian government is fighting two wars on terror: against Boko Haram and against Amnesty International.

    “The obvious bias and inaccuracies in Amnesty International’s recent country reports on Nigeria risk Amnesty’s reputation as an impartial international organisation.

    “President Buhari appeals to the leadership of Amnesty International to scrutinise its advocacy in Nigeria, especially as it relates to the war against terrorism.”

  • BMO dismisses Amnesty‘s report on killings as mischievous

    The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has accused Amnesty International (AI) of carrying out a hatchet job for the opposition in the run up to the 2019 general elections.

    The group made this known in a statement jointly sihgned by the its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke on Momday in Abuja.

    It said the report titled ‘Harvest of Deaths’ which focused on Herders-Farmers clash in the last three years, was tilted to make it look like the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari did little or nothing to stem the tide of violence.

    “It is also suspicious that Amnesty International went to great lengths to establish what we have always known- that herders’ communities had also been victims of a mindless orgy of violence over land and grazing routes.

    “Could it have to do with the fact that the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is also a member of the same Fulani ethnic stock like the President?

    “But it is mischievous to create the impression that the conflict is either a three-year old conflict or that it was worse in the last three years,” BMO said.

    It also questioned the real intention of Amnesty International in releasing its report barely two months to the election.

    “If the rights’ watchdog meant well for Nigeria, it should have released the report at a time some Nigerians felt that it was a one-way attack by Fulani herdsmen on innocent farming communities because of the ethnic identity of President Buhari.

    Read also: Amnesty International report dampening morale of soldiers- Buhari

    “This would have served to correct that impression, but not at a time of relative peace in virtually all the states listed in the report.

    “Could it be that Amnesty is bent on stoking the dying embers of the conflict in those states?

    “Or why has a group that is meant to be interested in peaceful co-existence not opted to focus on what the government had done right to manage the century-long conflicts between farmers and herdsmen,” it said.

    It added that the report was on the one hand a continuation of Amnesty International’s gripe against Nigeria in recent times.

    It said on the other hand the report was an affirmation of what its management has always said in spite of information to the contrary.

    “The report is a product of a pre-conceived notion which AI just used witnesses to back up.

    “For instance AI’s country Director Osai Ojigho had in a February 2018 interview in ‘The Cable’ claimed that ‘despite the fact that this has been going on for a long time, can we point out one or two cases where people have been arrested, prosecuted and fully went through the course of the law to ensure justice’.

    “If it operated with an unbiased mindset, Amensty would have known that a 15-year-old Fulani herdsman, Haruna Usman was sentenced to death for killing a farmer in Kogi in 2017.

    “Just as another court in Adamawa handed down the death sentence to five young men for killing a herdsmen also in 2017.

    “All these happened before Ms Ojigho’s interview where she was emphatic that there had been no arrests and prosecution of people on both sides of the conflict,” it said

    The group noted that the report gave chilling accounts of how people including two catholic priests were killed in Benue state.

    “More surprising is that the AI report conveniently left out the fact that security forces arrested and are prosecuting six suspects including the commander of the state Livestock Guard, Tahaku Aliyu in connection with the April 24 killing.

    The group said the Police made the arrests within a few weeks after April 24 killing and as at May 31, the suspects were facing trial.

    It added that Amnesty International conveniently omitted it from a report which concluded that security agencies and the government are not doing enough to prosecute suspects.

    “In addition, the Police have recovered 9,657 illegal firearms and ammunition from suspected militias, armed herdsmen and farmers in a nationwide mop-up exercise.

    “The Army, on its part, launched full scale military operations in Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kaduna and Niger states which led to the death of scores of militant herdsmen and several arrests,” it said.

    The Pro-Buhari group urged Nigerians to view the latest report with suspicion.

    It added that government was not only taking steps to mop up illegal weapons, but was also putting in place confidence-building mechanisms that have significantly reduced tension in the affected states.(NAN)

  • Amnesty International report dampening morale of soldiers- Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja declared the operations of Amnesty International in Nigeria appeared to be damaging the morale of soldiers fighting terrorism.

    Expressing worries over the role of the organisation on the war against terror in Nigeria, he said its action has created the impression Nigeria was fighting two wars on terror- Boko Haram and Amnesty International.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, urged the leadership of the international organization to always scrutinise its advocacy in Nigeria, especially as it relates to the war against terrorism.

    The statement reads: “While President Muhammadu Buhari cherishes and encourages the noble ideals on which institutions like Amnesty International are founded, the organisation’s operations in Nigeria seem geared towards damaging the morale of the Nigerian military.

    “The Federal Government is increasingly concerned about the role that Amnesty International is playing in the war against terror in Nigeria.

    “While President Muhammadu Buhari cherishes and encourages the noble ideals on which institutions like Amnesty International are founded, the organisation’s operations in Nigeria seem geared towards damaging the morale of the Nigerian military.

    “It often appears as if the Nigerian government is fighting two wars on terror: against Boko Haram and against Amnesty International.

    “The obvious bias and inaccuracies in Amnesty International’s recent country reports on Nigeria risk Amnesty’s reputation as an impartial international organisation.

    “President Buhari appeals to the leadership of Amnesty International to scrutinise its advocacy in Nigeria, especially as it relates to the war against terrorism.”

     

  • Boko Haram: Monarch cautions Amnesty International, others

    The Olowu of Owu Kuta in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Hammed Makama Oyelude, has warned Amnesty International and other non governmental organisations (NGOs) against sabotaging the efforts of the Nigerian military in the ongoing war against Boko Haram in the Northeastern part of the country. The monarch accused Amnesty International of disseminating wrong information about the military operations in the area to discredit the performances of the Nigerian troops.

    “Amnesty International and other NGOs should desist from sabotaging our efforts to destabilize the insurgency. Anything that will denigrate the integrity and image of our military should not be tolerated. I am of the  opinion that the submission by Amnesty International to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the Nigerian Army is destabilizing, injurious and defamatory.

    “To say that the Nigerian military is guilty of murder pursuant to article 8(2)(c)(i); torture, cruelty, outrageous upon personal dignity and internationally directing attacks against civilians just exposed how far away from reality the ICC is. I consider it mischievous and malicious the timing of the release of the said report and the usual double standard of the so-called Amnesty International in demoralizing our patriotic army,” he said.

    Olowu charged President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the rescue of the military by using the military instinct in him to insulate the men and officers on the war fronts against blackmail and sabotage. “I urge Mr. President, despite his ongoing political campaigns, to focus more on the insurgency battle. The insurgency is a war. Emergency could be declared in some affected areas.

    “The budget of the military should not be questioned in times of emergency so that they could have enough resources to fight the battle. I will soon begin a tour of the palaces of traditional rulers in all the six geo-political zones of the country to advocate more support for the Nigerian military because the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable,” Oba Oyelude added.

     

  • Protesters storm Amnesty International’s Abuja office

    Protesters have stormed the Abuja head office of Amnesty International (AI) to demand that the Federal Government expel the internationally acclaimed non-governmental organization for inducing chaos in the country.

     

    The London-based group, whose primary focus is on human rights, has been fingered in collaborating with other groups and disgruntled individuals to bolster violent demonstrations just to blackmail the FG.

     

    AI is allegedly known to be smitten with Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Islamic Movement of Nigeria and other terrorist groups in the country.

     

    It was on this premise that Concerned Citizens Conference of Nigeria (CCCN) declared a seven-day non-stop protest at AI’s office until the group quits.

     

    In a statement signed by President, Hon, Samuel Adadu, the protester revealed that AI is exploiting the likes of Omoyele Sowore as primers to trigger the destabilization of Nigeria.

     

    The group, therefore, vowed not to depart AI’s office except their demand is met.

     

    Read full statement below:

     

    We have as a matter of discipline resisted reacting to the so-called “RevolutionNow Movement” convened by one Omoyele Sowore. We have since found out that Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), suffers such credibility crisis that his own party suspended him for “anti-party activities, misappropriation of funds and inability to convene the National Executive Committee (NEC).” This tells you a lot about the character of the man leading a supposed revolution: one who is not loyal to his party and can never be loyal to Nigeria; one who steals even from his own party and is desirous of accessing the public treasury; and one who is incapable of managing a party he leads but is eager to mismanage Nigeria.

    Read also: Shi’ites: Police reject Amnesty International’s report

    The Revolution Now Movement, unfortunately, beyond even this charlatan, who in reality is fronting for several proscribed terrorist organizations. Subsumed in the protests are the interests of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Nigeria’s latest terrorist organization and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), another terrorist organization. These are groups that initially owned the protests that they claimed they want to use to express their RAGE, a clear indication that they want to go on an orgy of arson and terrorism of industrial proportions.

     

    Sowore, IMN, IPOB and their co-travellers in the planned violence are all united by one factor, their connection with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with its candidate that was defeated in the last presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. They have all enjoyed funding and material support from him. It is no coincidence that the criminal demands that they had each in the past made differently are now harmonized as a group of demands RevolutionNow Movement. The demands are also consistent with the predictions of how Atiku will destabilize the country to precipitate the formation of an interim national government.

     

    The tantrums of these failed entities and individuals have proven inconsequential, which was why we had concluded that reacting to their gripe would have amounted to giving them relevance and promoting them. They know not to break the law as there are ample provisions by way of legislation and judicial processes to address whatever crimes are committed in the course of them pursuing their illegality.

     

    Our discovery that these individuals and organizations are in reality proxies for a foreign interest, Amnesty International, has altered the dynamics. Amnesty International is exploiting them as primers to trigger the destabilization of Nigeria, which is an agenda it has been trying to implement for a long time. The long term support that the international NGO has given to Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), IMN, IPOB and other criminals in Nigeria is meant to culminate in the meltdown to be caused by the RevolutionNow Movement.

     

    Amnesty International has been running social media campaigns in support of the protests, which is in addition to its trying to blackmail the Federal Government of Nigeria into not responding to the threats posed by protests being organized by the terrorists and scammers.

     

    We have no other country to call our own hence our resolve to defend Nigeria from Amnesty International’s attacks on the sustenance of our democracy. We have therefore decided to launch an a 7-Day #ExpelAmnestyInternational Protests beginning from August 5 to send Amnesty International put of Nigeria. The protests will not only target Amnesty International’s offices and interests everywhere in Nigeria but will also target any protest that Amnesty International is supporting, like the RevolutionNow Movement. The protest will be seven days non-stop, including Saturday and Sunday.

     

    The Federal Government and the law enforcement agencies should note that the only way to stop our protest is if they successfully expel Amnesty International from Nigeria before August 2, 2019. We will not at this time announce what will happen if the NGO is not out of Nigeria at the close of the 7-Day #ExpelAmnestyInternational Protests since that will be premature. But we are confident that the protests will be so intense and effective that the nuisance group would have left Nigeria before we are done.

     

  • Expel Amnesty International before we put on our rage – group

     

    Expel Amnesty International before we put on our rage – CSOs tell President Buhari over foreign interest to destabilize Nigeria

     

    The Concerned Citizens’ Conference on Monday marked the 4th day of its total occupation of Amnesty International Office in Abuja to demand its expulsion of the from Nigeria.

     

     

    The CSOs vowed not to stop until the international organization leaves the country.

     

    According to the group, some foreign agencies were plotting to destabilize the country.

     

     

    Danelsi Momoh, National Secretary, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, saod Amnesty International took it upon itself to be the face of some agents of destabilization at it has continually issued statements and tweeted support for the organizers of #RevolutionNow Movement.

    He called on President Buhari to expel Amnesty International NOW or they would be forced to turn our rage against the NGO.

     

    His speech below.

     

    Dear compatriots, in recent days Nigeria has been confronted with a new brand of terrorism that is being packaged as activism. This cover of activism has been stretched to bestow a toga of respectability to terrorist organizations like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN); we believe that Boko Haram elements, bandits and killer herdsmen are part of the protests being planned by this alliance or rebranded terrorists working with a bitter opposition.

    Amnesty International took it upon itself to be the face of these terrorists. It has continually issued statements and tweeted support for the organizers of #RevolutionNow Movement even when it is apparent that their protest is an amalgam of organizations that have been properly proscribed as terrorist organizations or members of the opposition.

    Since we began this protest to occupy Amnesty International’s office here in Abuja, we have taken time to investigate the social media handles of the officials of the NGO. We did this following the belligerent way they insisted on staying back so that they can complete their evil plot in Nigeria. What we discovered in the private social media handles of Amnesty international’s staffers is troubling and worrisome – their account showed individuals whose personal views are jaundiced to the point that they are openly anti-Buhari and counter-Nigeria. We saw on their walls posts that were cynical of every move the government makes and even the seemingly objective ones of their posts were laden with innuendoes that are derisive of the country and its government.  How then can such people or the organization they represent pretend at being neutral or objective?

    It is equally ironic that Amnesty International is vocally supportive of  protests that are branded and promoted as ‘Days f Rage’ to challenge hallucinatory bad government by people with criminal and terrorist backgrounds but the same NGO dismissed our protest at its office for meddlesomeness in Nigeria’s affairs as government sponsored. This clearly exposes the double standard that has always been the hallmark of an organization that brags about being interested in human rights adherence. By the same token that its clients can occupy the streets in violent and murderous protests we, as Nigerians, have the right to be present here as expression of our grievances against the injury being caused to our country.

    Let us not lose sight of the facts of events up until this moment. One of Amnesty International’s clients, one Omoyele Sowore, who scored a few thousands votes as a presidential candidate in the last elections, openly called for Nigerians to join the protests with inciting comments like “except Nigerians bond together and bundle these guys out of our national space we are wasting our time” and “August 5 we are shutting down Nigeria” in apparent reference to forcefully overthrowing a democratically elected government. These threats and others that included destruction of some security organizations are the what Amnesty International is describing as “freedom of expression”. Sadly, some otherwise highly respected individuals have been parroting the NGO’s twisted position because they erroneously believe it is objective as per its international branding.

    We have our fears. If this is the definition of freedom of expression it is a matter of time before some people start calling for the assassination of the opposition figure and some fanatics will carry out the act in an even shorter span of time. When this happens the likes of Amnesty International will accuse the government of carrying out the attacks. The risk of such accusation pales in significance when compared to the danger of Nigeria going up in a conflagration, which is consistent with what this so called international organization has always wanted.

    On this fourth day of our occupation of Amnesty International’s offices in Abuja. We want to call attention to four things:

    “Amnesty International has track record of lying dating back to when it used a rehearsed actress as a witness to justify lies that Iraqi troops were throwing neonates out of incubators in Kuwait. It never walked back that lie. Such questionable means of gathering evidence is responsible for the growing suicide rate among its staff. “

    “Amnesty International is complicit in the affairs of countries that have failed or presently in turmoil today. An organization that can facilitate the ongoing pogrom in Yemen and still be resolute in creating new failed states should not be welcome in any self loving nation on earth.”

    “The financiers of Amnesty International are questionable individuals and organizations. The list include weapon manufacturers that are eager to have new wars and the resultant clients as well as opposition figures that are desperate to gain power through transition, interim or government of national unity as is the case of Atiku Abubakar and Omoyele Sowore in Nigeria”

    “There have been countries that successfully  expelled Amnesty International from their jurisdiction in the past. The reason for the expulsions is no different from the crime Amnesty International has been committing in Nigeria. Morocco once expelled the organization while Israel has expelled its affiliates. “

    “These for us are enough reasons not to have this monster in our country. Its output can only be pure evil and the longer it stays among us the more malevolent its evil will be.”

    Since we have passed the half mark in the deadline we gave Amnesty International to leave our country or be thrown out, we are directing our attention to the government because we believe it can send this organization out of Nigeria without waiting for us to unleash our own version of Day of Rage against the dubious organization. We are as a result using today’s protest to call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Ministry of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do the needful now.

    We have in the preceding three days defied the element – rain and the sun – to hold this protests against the evil taking up quarters in Nigeria. We are ready to sacrifice even more to defend the interest of Nigeria at all times and we will never stop to bring to the notice of authorities those that do not mean well for Nigeria.

    Our law enforcement agencies must rise to the occasion. It is not enough to arrest insurrectionists, it is important to trace their connections to the other variables in the plot to destabilize Nigeria. They must therefore investigate financial and communications connections between the RevolutionNow leaders and Amnesty International with a view to prosecuting and jailing any of its staffers that are directly involved in the plot to overthrow the government. This should extend to investigating the funding of Amnesty International and how they spend their money to ascertain the various clandestine operations they run against the county.

    We conclude our outing today by demanding that Mr. President appreciate the imperative of not sitting on the fence whilst corporate terrorists destroy the fabrics of our unity and peaceful co-existence. Amnesty International officials in Nigeria have an agenda to overthrow his democratically elected government in the country and it is a plot that is now at an advanced stage given the boldness with which its executioners now take to the streets to implement their plan.

    All the recent activities of Amnesty International is to force the government into inaction so that the coup plotters can carry on undeterred. This has to stop.

     

    Mr. President, you must expel Amnesty International NOW or we will be forced to turn our rage against the NGO.