THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Nigerian Army to focus on defeating the nation’s common enemy, the Boko Haram terrorists and stop wasting efforts attacking the Amnesty International.
SERAP’s tirade to the Army Headquarters followed call by the Military for the closure of the Amnesty International (AI) offices in Nigeria, alleging that there is credible evidence that the organisation is working hard to ‘destabilise’ the nation.
The Army Spokesperson, Usman Sani on Monday said that the organisation’s attempt to destabilise the nation was noted through the fabrication of fictitious allegations of alleged human rights abuses against the Nigerian security forces.
“They have tried over the years using Boko Haram terrorist’s conflicts, Islamic Movement in Nigeria, some activists and now herders-farmers conflicts,” he said.
Usman also alleged that the organisation had been organising clandestine sponsorship of dissident groups to protest, as well as unfounded allegations against the leadership of the Nigerian military.
“The NGO is at the verge of releasing yet another concocted report against the military, ostensibly against the Nigerian Army,” he said. “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,” Usman said.
The army had accused AI in the past month of falsifying reports on the clash between the Islamic Movement of Nigerian members and members of the military along the Keffi-Maraba highway road in Abuja.
Usman also accused the Nigerian branch of AI of deviating from the core values, principles and objectives of the original parent body in the United Kingdom.
But SERAP through its Twitter handle Monday afternoon lamented stigmatizing the NGO is attack on rights.
“Dear @HQNigerianArmy our country’s enemy is Boko Haram. It’s not @AmnestyNigeria a group working for Nigerians’ human rights. Stigmatising the NGO is attack on rights. Drop your quit notice on @AmnestyNigeria. Focus on defeating our common enemy: Boko Haram and other armed groups,” it wrote.