The Defence Headquarters yesterday dismissed as untrue claims by Amnesty International (AI) about the involvement of soldiers in torture or any violation of human rights in the North-East.
It also said it has reorganised the Special Task Force operating in Plateau State, North-Central Region.
The DHQ made the clarification in a statement by the Acting Director Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar.
He said the allegations “have been convincingly refuted and proven to be an orchestrated conspiracy against the Nigerian Armed Forces.”
The Nigerian military, he declared, “is a professional organization with track records of achievements in peacekeeping operations and therefore shares no comparison with rag-tag band of terrorists whatsoever.
“The military is constitutionally empowered to secure Nigeria from any form of insecurity.
“It is therefore unfair for Amnesty International and any other group to accuse the Nigerian military of human rights abuse based on cropped images used by the country’s enemies and detractors to achieve their purpose.
“The Nigerian military under the new dawn will never humiliate or harass any law-abiding citizen, and would remain focused to end terrorism soon.”
In a separate statement, the DHQ said: “In the new arrangement, the erstwhile internal security outfit known as Special Task Force (STF) is now designated “Operation Safe Haven”.
“The arrangement is in line with the mission and vision of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin.
“The reform is geared towards giving the security operation in the state more bite for better performance.
“With this vigour and determination, it is hoped that the incessant killings in the area as a result of ethnic clashes would be contained by the troops of the reinvigorated Operation Safe Haven in line with its Rules of Engagement.”
It assured innocent citizens of protection of their lives and property, and urged the communities to live in peace and report any case inimical to the breaking down of law and order to the security agencies for prompt action as nobody is above the law.
