GOODLUCKS WAR AGAINST THE NORTH I just watch the most horrific documentary of horrendous human rights abuses being perpetuated in the North East by allegedly the Nigerian military. If Summary executions, torture and impunity are the elements deployed to fight Boko Haram then I completely agree with General Buhari that this kind of military campaign is anti-North. The Channel 4 documentary Nigerias Hidden War details a systematic plot by the regime in power to decimate a people. Boko Haram is a despicable evil conglomerate but when Nigerian troops descend to their level of barbarity: Terrorising and killing innocent civilians then whats the difference between the state and Boko Haram? Instead of trying those responsible for slitting the throats of innocent civilians, a military kangaroo court martial has been instituted against soldiers who refused to obey orders and are charged with mutiny. History has shown that impunity will not check the insurgents but instead strengthens them. The lessons of the extrajudicial killing of Mohammed Yusuf the boko haram leader has not been learnt. Furthermore American military attaches were expunged for allegedly inciting Nigerian soldiers to disobey their Commanders while in reality the collation of information on gross human rights abuses was the alleged bone of contention. Every Nigerian wants to see the back of Boko Haram. They deserve to be tried, imprisoned or executed. But it is better to let 10 boko haram members escape than kill 1 innocent man. Even when the suspects denied membership of the dreaded sect they were beaten to death. Every day 100s are allegedly killed within the notorious Giwa Barracks that makes Abu Ghraib Prison in Baghdad seem like a vacation camp. Goodluck Jonathan can not pretend to be unaware of these atrocities for he is the Commander in chief of the Armed Forces. The best advise he should take is to launch a transparent open investigation into these war crimes for each day that he fails to do so cements the feeling that he is waging war against the North and not against Boko Haram. Already his rosy relationship with the Americans is in tatters and he is now vulnerable to the Charles Taylor treatment especially now that America doesnt need our oil. Many claim to be friends of GEJ but alas they dont have his interests at heart. They are all sychophants or professional boot lickers for a fee. The truth is there for him to see. End the acts of impunity in the North, hand over the campaign against Boko Haram to intelligence services and special forces units and try all those top commanders that sanctioned such unwholesome acts. This is the only way to win hearts and minds which will eventually defeat boko haram. If he plays ostrich then losing the 2015 General Elections will be the least of his worries when an indictment at the international criminal court pops up against him. That is the bottomline. A word is enough for the wise.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:32:18 +0000