The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has denied the fact that they arrested underage, detained them, and tortured them in their custody, an allegation levied on the Nigerian Defense by the Amnesty International’s allegation.
In its 91-page report titled “‘We dried our tears’: Addressing the toll on children of Northeast Nigeria’s conflict”,
Amnesty International between November 2019 and April 2020, they realized that more than 230 people have been affected by the conflict through an interview that was conducted in the North.
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They added that about 119 were children when they encountered suffering by Boko Haram and the Nigerian Military and that about 48 children were detained by the military for months and some for years with some other 22 adults.
The Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche said in response to the allegations levied against the Nigerian Military, he said Amnesty International is undermining the achievements and efforts of the Nigerian military in the fight against Boko Haram in the northern side of Nigeria.
“Why is it that every time we are recording success, they will come up with their report?
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“All the allegations are all lies. None is true. Patriotic Nigerians are already reacting. To say that we are touring children is ridiculous. We are party to the international convention on war.
“How about the people, the women, and children we have rescued and vaccinated?. The purpose is to discourage those who are supporting us” he said.
The Defense spokesman said there is no particular set for the Military to end the war against Boko Haram in the North-east of the country.
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“There is no time that there will not be casualty. I cannot say but that the casualty figure will be reduced, yes.
“There is no mathematical end to the war. The Bible says the heart of man is desperately wicked. We will get there. I assure Nigerians that the situation would be normalized.”
Enenche also added that fears are rising from the news that armed bandits escaping from states where troops are currently conducting various operations and sweeping of bandits as ordered by the president.
He said positive measures were in place to tackle such situations and further revealed that airstrike assets had been deployed to cover Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi states.
