The reinstatement of a senior Nigerian military general implicated in the
\nmass murder of hundreds of detainees underlines the monumental failure of
\nthe government to stamp out impunity for war crimes at the highest level,
\nsaid Amnesty International.<\/p>\n
Last June, Amnesty International named Major General Ahmadu Mohammed,
\nalong with eight other senior commanders, calling for an investigation
\ninto their possible criminal responsibility for war crimes including the
\ndeaths of more than 8,000 of detainees.<\/p>\n
Major General Ahmadu, was in charge of 7 Division and was in command of
\noperations when the military executed more than 640 detainees following a
\nBoko Haram attack on the detention centre in Giwa barracks on 14 March
\n2014. He was retired in 2014 for unrelated reasons, but reinstated this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
An in depth report exposed a range of war crimes and possible crimes
\nagainst humanity committed by the military in the course of operations
\nagainst Boko Haram. It found that, since March 2011, more than 7,000 were
\nstarved, suffocated, and tortured to death in military detention camps. A
\nfurther 1,200 were rounded up and unlawfully killed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMajor General Mohammed must be investigated for participating in,
\nsanctioning or failing to prevent the deaths of hundreds of people,\u201d said
\nSalil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoung men and boys, rounded up by the military, were either shot,
\nstarved, suffocated or tortured to death and no one has yet been held to
\naccount. It is unthinkable that Major General Muhammed could resume
\ncommand of troops before an investigation has even begun.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report, Stars on their shoulders, blood on their hands: War crimes
\ncommitted by the Nigerian military, was based on years of research and
\nanalysis of evidence – including leaked military reports and
\ncorrespondence, as well as interviews with more than 400 victims,
\neyewitnesses and senior members of the Nigerian security forces.<\/p>\n
It exposed a range of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity
\ncommitted by the military in the course of operations against Boko Haram.
\nIt found that, since March 2011, more than 7,000 were starved, suffocated,
\nand tortured to death in military detention camps. A further 1,200 were
\nrounded up and unlawfully killed.<\/p>\n
It named nine senior Nigerian military figures along the chain of command
\nwho should be investigated for potential command and individual
\nresponsibility for the crimes committed.<\/p>\n
Hours after the publication of the report on 3 June<\/span><\/span>, President Buhari Likewise the President announced on 12 June 2015 that investigating Since the publication of the report, four of the named military commanders \u201cSeven months after the publication of these horrific discoveries and the \u201cThose responsible for the crimes detailed in Amnesty International\u2019s BACKGROUND<\/p>\n In November 2015, the Office of the Prosecutor at the International The prosecutor is assessing the admissibility of the potential cases in Amnesty International\u2019s report into human rights violations by the Major General Ahmadu Mohammed – reinstated. Major General John A.H. Ewansiha – currently retired. He received regular reports indicating the commission of these crimes by Major General Obida T Ethan – currently retired. Brigadier General Austin O. Edokpayi \u2013 status unknown. Brigadier General Rufus O. Bamigboye \u2013 status unknown. In addition, Amnesty International believes that the following high-level Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika. He was Chief of Army Staff from September The reinstatement of a senior Nigerian military general implicated in the mass murder of hundreds of detainees underlines the monumental failure of the government to stamp out impunity for war…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nresponded personally on Twitter to say: “I assure you that your report
\nwill be looked into\u2026This administration will leave no stone unturned to
\npromote the rule of law, and deal with all cases of human rights abuses.”<\/p>\n
\ncriminal responsibility for the violations documented in Amnesty
\nInternational\u2019s report would be the first task of the Attorney General.
\nThis investigation is yet to begin.<\/p>\n
\nhave retired. Two others had already retired prior to the publication of
\nthe report. The current status of two Brigadier Generals is unknown. Major
\nGeneral Mohammed was removed from his post on 16 May 2014 two days after a
\nreported mutiny by his own men. News of his reinstatement reached Amnesty
\nInternational on 17 January.<\/p>\n
\nPresident\u2019s pledge that they will be looked into, we continue to call for
\nurgent independent investigations to begin,\u201d said Salil Shetty.<\/p>\n
\nreport must be held to account, no matter their rank or position. Only
\nthen can there be justice for the dead and their relatives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nCriminal Court, identified two potential cases of crimes against humanity
\nand war crimes by the Nigerian military. These relate to the arrest,
\ndetention, torture and death in custody of Boko Haram suspects and
\nextrajudicial executions, including of recaptured detainees on 14 March
\n2014.<\/p>\n
\norder to reach a decision on whether the criteria for opening an
\ninvestigation are met.<\/p>\n
\nmilitary was published on 3 June 2015. Based on the evidence it uncovered,
\nthe organization believes that the following military officers should be
\ninvestigated for potential individual or command responsibility for the
\nwar crimes of murder, enforced disappearance and torture detailed in this
\nreport:<\/p>\n
\nHe was Commander of 7 Division from 24 February until 16 May 2014. During
\nthis period, Amnesty International continued to document arbitrary arrests
\nand unlawful detention of thousands of people in inhumane conditions, the
\ndeaths in custody of large numbers of detainees and extrajudicial
\nexecutions committed by Nigerian troops under his command. In addition,
\nMajor General Ahmadu Mohammed was in charge of military operations when,
\nin the aftermath of a Boko Haram attack on Giwa Barracks, Nigerian
\nmilitary executed more than 640 former detainees. Major General Mohammed
\nwas reinstated in January 2016 and is waiting to be assigned a post.<\/p>\n
\nHe was General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Operation Restore Order I (ORO)
\nand Operation BOYONA between January 2012 and August 2013. As GOC of ORO
\nand Operation BOYONA, he was informed about the arbitrary arrest and
\nunlawful detention of thousands of people in inhumane conditions, the
\ndeaths in custody of large numbers of detainees and extrajudicial
\nexecutions in areas under his command in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.<\/p>\n
\nhis subordinates and failed to take measures to stop and prevent them or
\nto bring those responsible to account. In August 2013, he became Chief of
\nStandards and Evaluation at Army Headquarters and Chief of Training and
\nOperations at Army Headquarters.<\/p>\n
\nHe was Commander of 7 Division from 22 August 2013 until 1 January 2014.
\nMajor General Ethan took over the command of the military operations in
\nAdamawa, Borno and Yobe states in August 2013 from Major General Ewansiha.
\nDuring this period, Amnesty International continued to document arbitrary
\narrests and unlawful detention of thousands of people in inhumane
\nconditions, the deaths in custody of large numbers of detainees and
\nextrajudicial executions committed by Nigerian troops under his command.<\/p>\n
\nHe was in command of the Multinational Joint Task Force based in Baga from
\nat least April 2013 until December 2013 where Nigerian soldiers were
\nresponsible for arbitrary arrests and unlawful detention, the
\nextrajudicial executions of more than 185 people in April 2013, and deaths
\nin custody in Baga detention facility.<\/p>\n
\nHe was Commander of the 21 Armoured Brigade, stationed in Giwa barracks
\nfrom February 2012 till September 2013. He was in charge of the barracks
\nduring the period when at least 5,000 detainees died in custody, and when
\ntorture and ill-treatment were used routinely. In December 2013, he was
\npromoted to Deputy Director of Operations at Defence Headquarters.
\nAccording to media reports, Brigadier General Bamigboye was appointed
\nChief of Staff of 81 Division in July 2015. Amnesty International has not
\nbeen able to verify his current status.<\/p>\n
\nmilitary commanders should be investigated for their potential command
\nresponsibility for crimes committed by their subordinates given that they
\nknew or should have known about the commission of the crimes, and failed
\nto take adequate action:<\/p>\n
\n2010 until he retired in January 2014.
\nAdmiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim. He was Chief of Defence Staff from 4 October
\n2012 until he retired in\u00a0 January 2014.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"