Implement effective combat measures against resurgence of Boko Haram, HURIWA charges Military

A pro-democracy and non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has charged the Military authority to spend more time working and implementing effective combat measures against the resurging Boko Haram terrorists rather than diverting attention by hiring phantom groups to attack Amnesty International and using productive time chasing shadows.

The rights group has also called for adequate funding and transparent use of the public fund to procure better fighting weapons to check the sudden resurgence of Boko Haram terrorists and the killings of many soldiers and civilians in the North East of Nigeria.

In a statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA lamented that the security chiefs are spending resources and time attacking credible local and international bodies such as Amnesty International, while strategies to combat insurgency were not producing meaningful results.

The rights group said it was regrettable that whilst the Defence headquarters sits back comfortably in the air-conditioned office complex in Abuja attacking Amnesty International over reports of human rights violations by soldiers, the combatants who are reportedly not well equipped and motivated are being reportedly and mercilessly slaughtered by armed insurgents in the North East.

HURIWA said every right thinking patriot in Nigeria should be worried that Boko Haram has killed 44 soldiers and nine farmers in three days of attacks on some villages in Borno State as reported by AFP.

HURIWA said it has become necessary for a change of tactics since according to the report, which quoted security sources, the Islamic State West Africa Province, a Boko Haram splinter group, killed at least 44 soldiers in attacks on three military bases during the week.

“We read with consternation that out of the 44 soldiers, no fewer than 43 were killed on Sunday in Metele, a remote village near the Nigerian border with Niger, according to a military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.”

HURIWA recalled that a military officer stated, “Our troops were completely routed and the terrorists captured the base after heavy fighting,” adding that the base commander and three officers were among the dead.

HURIWA faulted the press conference in which the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General John Agim, alleged that the Amnesty International had designed counter-productive plans to frustrate the war by recycling old reports even as the Defence spokesman claimed: “If you read reports of Amnesty International, the one they have started publishing this year is what happened in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and they recycle it every month. So, when you will see their reports, you will think the security agents have done something new. But if you take time to profile the reports, you will discover that they are repeating the same thing.”

HURIWA tasked the military to face their duties and welcome constructive criticism with open minds and make amends so as to become a thoroughly respected military institution in Africa and a reference point in the World.