The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Saturday urged troops to shun distractions arising from the International Criminal Court (ICC) plans to investigate alleged war crimes against Nigerian forces in the North East.
The Army Chief in a statement through the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Sagir Musa, advised troops to ignore what he described as “wicked and unnecessary distractions.”
He asked them to fully concentrate on the final defeat of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist groups, which he said was in sight.
Responding to Friday’s statement by the ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda that the organisation would investigate Nigerian security forces for alleged “crimes against humanity” and “war crimes” in the North East, the COAS said there was no doubt that such statement and instigation could distract the Nigerian troops with its demoralising effects.
He also charged the troops to work hard and be guided by the constitution of Nigeria, the Rules of Engagement, the Code of Conduct and the Standing Operating Procedures for all Nigerian Army Operations.
“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 Nigerian army wishes to advise local or international organisations not to allow themselves be used to destabilise or destroy the troops’ morale by the sponsors of mischief in Nigeria,” he said.
