Nigeria

Buratai tells soldiers not to be distracted by ICC proposed investigation

Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 8:37 PM by Kess Ewubare

- General Tukur Buratai has disagreed with the comments of the ICC about the operations of the Nigerian Army

- The chief of army staff commended his men for their professional conduct

- The military commander recalled instances of how the army helped in sustaining human rights

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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has described the plan by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the Nigerian Army for war crimes as wicked and unnecessary distractions.

Buratai’s comments were disclosed in a statement by the acting director of army public relations, Brig Gen Sagir Musa, on Saturday, December 12 in Abuja, Vanguard reported.

Buratai tells soldiers not to be distracted by ICC proposed investigation — General Buratai claims the Nigerian Army has carried out duties with diligence. Photo: Stringer
Source: Getty Images

According to Musa, the military chief urged troops not to be distracted and discouraged by the ICC. He insisted that the Nigerian Army has always maintained professional conduct in any operation.

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Buratai argued that the Nigerian Army is actively protecting and sustaining human rights nationally and globally.

He said:

“Our professional conduct over the years and most recently, during the #ENDSARS protest at Lekki village near Lagos are clear testimonies to the Nigerian army’s posture on promoting sustainable human rights policy."

The Tribune reported that the military commander told soldiers engaged in counter-insurgency operations to fully concentrate on the final defeating the insurgents in the country.

He called on local and international organisations not to allow themselves to be used to destroy the morale of soldiers.

Meanwhile, a report by The Nation indicated that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6th Division, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Maj-Gen. Johnson Olu Irefin, has reportedly died of complications from the coronavirus pandemic.

The sudden death of Irefin, who assumed the command of the division in July after replacing Maj.-Gen. Felix Agugo, was said to have thrown the Army into mourning.