The military high command and the rights organisation, Amnesty International, on Tuesday locked horns over the series of accidental bombings carried by the air and land forces in their bid to clear terrorists from their enclaves which also affected some villagers.
While the organisation maintained that troops deserve to be probed and held accountable for their actions, the military accused Amnesty International of snubbing its invitations to come forward to prove all the allegations levelled against it.
Daily Trust reports that no fewer than 10 villagers died as a result of an operation carried out by the military on December 25 while targeting the Lakurawa terrorists in Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Silame LGA of Sokoto State.
But Amnesty accused the military of trying to cover up the killing of citizens in Sokoto communities, insisting that the incident brings the total of citizens killed by accidental strikes in the country to 436 in the last eight years.
In an interview with journalists on Sunday, the Country Director, Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi, asked the military to submit details and records relating to the air strike to the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for an independent investigation.
Sanusi said, “Amnesty International condemns what appears to be the desperate attempt by the Nigerian military to cover up the horrific Christmas day air strikes that killed at least 10 people and injured dozens at two communities of Silame LGA of Sokoto State.”
But reacting to the organisation’s demand while fielding questions from journalists during a press briefing at Defence Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, said the military would comply only after the organisation honours its invitation.
Buba, a major-general said, “We extended an invitation to them for us to look at some allegations that they level against the military, which we found to be very shocking and misleading and unfortunate. We are waiting for them.
“And now that they’ve come up with another request, we will take advantage of when they honour that invitation to show them what they have requested to see. So the ball is in their court. We await Amnesty International.”
The military’s spokesman urged the citizens not to be swayed by terrorists’ propaganda on the incident, adding that victory against all the adversaries is certain in 2025.
“Don’t give in to terrorist propaganda. If things have happened with that bombing that took place in the northwest on Christmas day and you are hearing different words going out, do you think that the terrorists would be happy that we bombed them? They will of course put up propaganda. Don’t feed into their propaganda, please,” he said.
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