BY Chinedu Asadu
Amnesty International (AI) has faulted an army panel report which cleared soldiers of alleged extrajudicial killings of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Boko Haram insurgent group.
A statement issued on Thursday by Osai Ojigho, director of the organisation in Nigeria, said the panel was not independent and thorough in its investigations.
AI defended its earlier findings which indicted military personnel, and challenged the army to publicise the entire details of the panel’s report
“We maintain that the nine senior commanders named in our report should be the subject of an effective and independent investigation,” the statement read.
“To this end, we welcome the panel’s recommendation that there should be a presidential commission of inquiry into these allegations of horrific war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in north-east Nigeria.
“President Muhammadu Buhari promised an independent investigation into our allegations of human rights violations and crimes under international law two years ago. This is a vital step and must be implemented as a matter of urgency by the government.
“Amnesty International’s priority is justice, human rights and the dignity of human life in Nigeria.
“We maintain that those suspected of committing human rights violations and crimes under international law on all sides of the conflict must be brought to justice in fair trials before civilian courts without recourse to the death penalty.”
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