Allegation of 10,000 Deaths: Amnesty International Past Its Prime – Centre
…advises Amnesty International to Fold Up Voluntarily
The African Centre for Human Rights and Rule of Law has criticized Amnesty International following its latest report, which alleged that up to 10,000 individuals have died in Nigerian Army custody since the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Grace Ameh, Head of the Centre, described Amnesty International as an organization that has outlived its relevance. She argued that instead of attempting to use Nigeria to repair its tarnished global reputation, Amnesty International should focus on voluntarily shutting down. Ameh asserted that the group has failed to prevent genocides globally and has become ineffective in its operations.
Reacting to the report in Abuja, Ameh stated, “The organization has become a shadow of its former self. It lacks creativity in its strategies and aims to distract the military from securing Nigeria from terrorists.”
She added, “One would have thought that Amnesty International would have moved beyond deploying blatant lies, fake news, and baseless allegations in its work in Nigeria. Instead, it has issued this misleading report to undermine the military’s efforts to liberate citizens held captive by Boko Haram terrorists.”
Ameh emphasized that Nigerians must recognize the transformation of their military into a professional fighting force that adheres to human rights, the rule of law, and global best practices. She argued that Amnesty International’s claims are inconsistent with the military’s demonstrated commitment to accountability and transparency.
“The Nigerian military operates under strict rules of engagement and complies with international human rights standards. Amnesty International has failed to substantiate its claims with credible evidence and has ignored the complexities of Nigeria’s security situation,” she said.
Ameh criticized Amnesty International for disregarding the Nigerian government’s efforts to investigate and address reported abuses. She challenged the organization to focus on global crises like the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine rather than treating Nigeria as a convenient target to bolster its image.
“Amnesty International continues to recycle discredited reports under new titles and manipulated contexts while neglecting human catastrophes unfolding elsewhere. Its failure to contribute meaningfully to global issues has led to this misplaced attack on Nigeria,” Ameh said.
She urged Amnesty International’s Nigeria office to redirect its efforts toward addressing internal issues, including recent allegations of fraud and collusion with terrorists by former staff members and whistleblowers.
“Instead of perpetuating false narratives about Nigeria, Amnesty International should reflect on the revelations of misconduct within its ranks and take steps to regain credibility,” she concluded.
