Boko Haram: Security forces probe politicians over funds

•Presidency considers troops’ withdrawal
Security agencies are beaming searchlights on some northern politicians found to have paid money to suspected terrorists in the North East.

A top security source told newsmen on Friday in Abuja that indeed, some of these politicians admitted paying what they described as ‘protection money’ to insurgents to safeguard their family members, businesses and other interests.

The security top shot described the lack of cooperation of the political elite in the North West as very unfortunate given the enormous sacrifices the security forces were making to bring peace to the area.

“At a recent chat, three political office holders in the troubled zone were confronted with evidence of their paying money to certain persons and they admitted it, but claimed it was for the protection of their interests. And these are the same people who would go out to accuse the security forces of all sorts of allegations,” the source said. The source, however, declined to disclose what step would be taken against such people after the conclusion of investigations.

It was also gathered that a recent press conference addressed in Abuja by leaders of the zone led by a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Al-amin Dagash, is being viewed with serious concern by both the presidency and the security forces.

Dagash, with former Finance Minister, Adamu Chiroma and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, among others, a few days ago, called for an end to emergency rule in the North East and withdrawal of troops from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. They insinuated official complicity in the uneding mass killings in those states.

However, a top source in the military hinted Saturday Tribune that the government viewed with “serious security concerns, the statement credited to the prominent people who should know better than what they said.”

The source hinted at a possible cessation of military operations in those states  saying “those people should stop their unpatriotic activities and appreciate the sacrifice being made by our officers and men.

“The system is under serious pressure to withdraw the troops. It is considering the demands of the political elite of the areas who recently claimed that they are representing their people and that the troops be withdrawn.

“If the government would concede to such demands and there is any untoward consequence, the people should know those to be held responsible.

“They said they represented the people. But who are the representatives of the people now? Is it elected political leaders or these people who are making false claims and throwing influence about? Whatever it is, the government is not taking it lightly with their position on the military operations going on there. Government has a duty to protect the people but if these pressures continue, there may be some drastic measures on these operations,” the source warned.

Military probes alleged killing of 1,500
Meanwhile, the military high command on Friday vowed to probe reports that more than 1,500 people had been killed in the North-Eastern Nigeria by both the security forces and Boko Haram in the last three months.

A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olubolade, described the report as “quite confounding,” vowing to launch an investigation into the issue.

Amnesty International had in a report alleged that an increase in attacks by Boko Haram Islamic sect and uncontrolled reprisals by Nigeria’s security forces resulted in the death of at least 1,500 people in the North-East Nigeria, “more than half of whom are civilians, in the first three months of 2014.

“The escalation of violence in north-eastern Nigeria in 2014 has developed into a situation of non-international armed conflict in which all parties are violating international humanitarian law. We urge the international community to ensure prompt, independent investigations into acts that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said Netsanet Belay, Research and Advocacy Director for Africa at Amnesty International.

“More than 1,500 deaths in three months indicate an alarming deterioration in the situation. The international community cannot continue to look the other way in the face of extrajudicial executions, attacks on civilians and other crimes under international law being committed on a mass scale. Civilians are paying a heavy price as the cycle of violations and reprisals gather momentum.”

According to Amnesty, more than half of the killings have been carried out by members of the Islamist armed group Boko Haram, including scores of school children who have been the victims of deliberate attacks.

But Olukolade said in a statement on Friday that Amnesty International’s report, entitled Nigeria: More than 1,500 killed in Armed Conflict in North-Eastern Nigeria in early 2014, contained very serious allegations of human right abuses.  

“This report is a new dimension to the well-known fact that the security operation in that part of the country was necessitated by the need to address the gross abuse of human rights being perpetrated against Nigerians by the terrorists.   

“It is noteworthy that despite the peculiar asymmetric nature of the security challenge, measures have been put in place to ensure compliance with tenets of human rights and rules of engagement by troops involved in the conduct of the mission. Apart from inculcating the necessity for observance of human rights in troops, regular programmes have been conducted to review the human rights situation related to the conduct of the operations.

“It is in this respect that most of those apprehended in the counter-terrorist operations are kept in custody.  These detention facilities have been visited by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – including International Committee of the Red Cross and others, to verify the conditions of detainees. This is even in the face of destruction of relevant amenities by the terrorists who have burnt down prisons, courts and government facilities in that part of the country in the course of their ceaseless attacks.”

The statement described the claim contained in the Amnesty International’s report attributing gross abuses of human rights of Nigerians to both the terrorists and the security forces as “quite confounding.”

But it added that despite the fact that the report “is not consistent with the actual situation on ground, the security authorities will ensure that the allegations as it affects the government forces are duly investigated” with a view to taking necessary action to address any case of human rights breach on the part of troops.