TheCable

The Nigerian army has asked Amnesty International to search its conscience over the report it released on the December clash between members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shi’ites, and some soldiers.

In the report entitled: ‘Unearthing the truth: Unlawful killings and mass cover-up in Zaria’, the human right group said satellite images had exposed the massacre that the military carried out in Kaduna.

The organisation gave detailed account of how the military allegedly burnt Shi’ites alive and killed innocent secondary school students.

But the army has described Amnesty’s investigation as “hasty and impartial”, calling on the body to let the panels probing the incident run their course without interference.

“The NGO should understand that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and it should be respected,” an army spokesman said in a statement.

“Already, a judicial inquiry is in place in addition to investigation by the National Human Rights Commission. The NGO’s hasty report – if true – is against the principles of the Amnesty International itself as it is preemptive and judgemental.

“They must allow the judicial commission of inquiry and all other relevant agencies to complete and submit their reports before jumping to conclusion.

“Let the NGO search its conscience please.”