The military high command and the rights organisation, Amnesty International, on Tuesday, clashed over the series of accidental bombings by the air and land forces in their bid to clear terrorists from their enclaves which also affected some villagers.
While Amnesty International stated that troops deserve to be probed and held accountable for their actions, the military accused the organisation of snubbing its invitations to prove all the allegations levelled against it.
Newspot reports that at least 10 villagers died from 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.
However, Amnesty International alleged that the military was 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.
Speaking with newsmen 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.
“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,” Sanusi said.
Responding, however, while fielding questions from newsmen 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.
“We extended an invitation to them for us to look at some allegations that they leveled 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,” Buba said.
He called on the citizens not to be swayed by terrorists’ propaganda on the incident, stressing that victory against all the adversaries was 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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