Onyocha:
US faults FG on soldiers indicted in Army, Shi’ites’ clash

The United States on Tuesday noted that there was no record that the Nigerian or military authorities had demanded accountability from the soldiers implicated in the December 2015 clash between the Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

The US stated this in the International Religious Freedom Report for 2017 released by the Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour.

The report also noted that the Nigerian government continued to hold El-Zakzaky and restrict the free movement and association of his followers.

It read, “Human rights groups continued to report the Federal Government often failed to prevent, quell, or respond to violence affecting religious groups, particularly in the North Eastern and central regions of the country.

“In November, Kano State police fired tear gas and bullets, killing three members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria during its annual Ashura procession.


“The government continued to detain the leader of the IMN, the country’s largest Shia group, and restrict the activities, free movement, and free association of its members.

“There were no reports of accountability for soldiers implicated in the December 2015 clash between the army and IMN members that, according to a Kaduna State Government report and reports from non-government observers, left at least 348 IMN members and one soldier dead, with IMN members buried in a mass grave.”

It, however, alleged that dozens of IMN members were still being held since December 2015, charged with the death of the soldier.

It recalled that in August, the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo announced the creation of a Presidential Investigative Panel that was committed to transparently and credibly investigating human rights abuses committed by the military.

It said the IMN, however, publicly stated that it would boycott the panel because it doubted its sincerity.

External human rights observers, it noted, also expressed concern over the lack of transparency and rigour of the panel.

The report noted that the Nigerian government had yet to obey court orders on the detained El-Zakzaky and his wife.

“The government stated publicly that Sheikh El-Zakzaky, leader of the IMN and a prominent Shia cleric, would remain in what it said was ‘protective custody’ pending the appeal of the December 2016 decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja that the government must release him.

“At year’s end, El-Zakzaky remained in prison.

“The court also ruled that the government must provide him with a house and pay him and his wife restitution of N25m ($69,600) by January 15; at year’s end, the court’s order had yet to be followed,” it said.

The report also indicated that terrorist organisation, Boko Haram, and its splinter organisation, the Islamic State-West Africa, continued “carrying out numerous attacks, committing mass killings, and targeting civilians. “

It quoted Nigeria Watch as estimating that activities by Boko Haram and ISIS-WA resulted in the deaths of 1,794 persons in 2017, including members of the two groups.

The Ministry of Defence’s spokesman, Charles Nwodo, said he could not comment on the report till Wednesday (today), when he would be back to the office.

“Defer the report till tomorrow. I will be back to the office by then.”

Nwodo declined further comment.

Meanwhile, the Director of Information, Defence Headquarters, Brig. Gen. John Agim, could not be reached for comment as his line rang out.

Also, a text message sent to his phone had yet to be replied as of the time of filing this report.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, also could not be reached for comment as of press time.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not be reached for comment as the minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, did not respond to calls. He had yet to reply to a text message as of the time of filing this report.

The MFA spokesman, Tope Elias-Fatile, could also not be reached as calls to his phone indicated that he was unavailable.



http://punchng.com/us-faults-fg-on-soldiers-indicted-in-army-shittes-clash/

Ogonimilitant:
God Bless America
God Bless Biafra
God Bless Israel
god bless Nigeria

Onyocha:
US faults FG on soldiers indicted in Army, Shi’ites’ clash

The United States on Tuesday noted that there was no record that the Nigerian or military authorities had demanded accountability from the soldiers implicated in the December 2015 clash between the Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

The US stated this in the International Religious Freedom Report for 2017 released by the Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour.

The report also noted that the Nigerian government continued to hold El-Zakzaky and restrict the free movement and association of his followers.

It read, “Human rights groups continued to report the Federal Government often failed to prevent, quell, or respond to violence affecting religious groups, particularly in the North Eastern and central regions of the country.

“In November, Kano State police fired tear gas and bullets, killing three members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria during its annual Ashura procession.


“The government continued to detain the leader of the IMN, the country’s largest Shia group, and restrict the activities, free movement, and free association of its members.

“There were no reports of accountability for soldiers implicated in the December 2015 clash between the army and IMN members that, according to a Kaduna State Government report and reports from non-government observers, left at least 348 IMN members and one soldier dead, with IMN members buried in a mass grave.”

It, however, alleged that dozens of IMN members were still being held since December 2015, charged with the death of the soldier.

It recalled that in August, the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo announced the creation of a Presidential Investigative Panel that was committed to transparently and credibly investigating human rights abuses committed by the military.

It said the IMN, however, publicly stated that it would boycott the panel because it doubted its sincerity.

External human rights observers, it noted, also expressed concern over the lack of transparency and rigour of the panel.

The report noted that the Nigerian government had yet to obey court orders on the detained El-Zakzaky and his wife.

“The government stated publicly that Sheikh El-Zakzaky, leader of the IMN and a prominent Shia cleric, would remain in what it said was ‘protective custody’ pending the appeal of the December 2016 decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja that the government must release him.

“At year’s end, El-Zakzaky remained in prison.

“The court also ruled that the government must provide him with a house and pay him and his wife restitution of N25m ($69,600) by January 15; at year’s end, the court’s order had yet to be followed,” it said.

The report also indicated that terrorist organisation, Boko Haram, and its splinter organisation, the Islamic State-West Africa, continued “carrying out numerous attacks, committing mass killings, and targeting civilians. “

It quoted Nigeria Watch as estimating that activities by Boko Haram and ISIS-WA resulted in the deaths of 1,794 persons in 2017, including members of the two groups.

The Ministry of Defence’s spokesman, Charles Nwodo, said he could not comment on the report till Wednesday (today), when he would be back to the office.

“Defer the report till tomorrow. I will be back to the office by then.”

Nwodo declined further comment.

Meanwhile, the Director of Information, Defence Headquarters, Brig. Gen. John Agim, could not be reached for comment as his line rang out.

Also, a text message sent to his phone had yet to be replied as of the time of filing this report.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, also could not be reached for comment as of press time.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not be reached for comment as the minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, did not respond to calls. He had yet to reply to a text message as of the time of filing this report.

The MFA spokesman, Tope Elias-Fatile, could also not be reached as calls to his phone indicated that he was unavailable.



http://punchng.com/us-faults-fg-on-soldiers-indicted-in-army-shittes-clash/

Alejoc:


Even you are not using the USA whatsapp number

Ogonimilitant:
God Bless America
God Bless Biafra
God Bless Israel
god bless Nigeria

dealslip:
Wow not one of the spokesmen could be reached. They know they won't be able to defend Buhari's government without having to tell obvious lies.

Bidobado:


It's time for America and Americans to shut up and mind their own damn business.. Isn't terrorism a by product of America's foreign policy, yet the whole world has been made to suffer as a result. For peace to reign, America has to go down and stay there.

troublemakea:


my wish and prayer is that god give you sense this 2018. you hv stayed long without it

without USA you'd probably be in a farm wasting ur life out

vickzdvipe:
The US and West in general always have their senses of wrong and right in check whenever Perceived case(s) of human rights violations are reported in Africa and the Middle East.
When the Spanish government brutalized innocent and unarmed civilians who were protesting for their rights to express their franchise in calling for a referendum to secede from Spain, the US didn't condemn Spain. Nay, they didn't. Instead, they condemned the Catalonians.
But when it was the case with IPOB, a different story was the case. How fellow Africans don't see the conspiracy theory that is underlined in all these events baffles me.
Peace!!

Lipscomb:
USA my foot.what concern them about Nigeria government? Sometime USA talking as if all is well with them on 27th 10 people were killed by homicide in Chicago just to mark memorial day.

Bidobado:


That's exactly why you're stucked in lagos, being the trouble maker that you are and an urchin, you dumb Muthafucka.

slowice:


FIRST tell your useless govt to stop receiving aids from the US before coming here to rant

CSTR1003:

Are you telling Africans to support Nigeria's brutality against civilians because the US is hypocritical?

troublemakea:


there's a diff between being ignorant and being a clueless dumb ass

i'm just startled your both. buh well I got a solution for you and that's "Education" cause for you to be elevated from being a certified slowpoke you sure do need some

Bidobado:


You are irrelevant... So Fvck right off!!

Dreadful:
Gradually gradually Nigeria's cup don dey full.. USA looking for something to hold unto to warrant their invasion. Nigeria your doomsday is near. Brace up cos this contraption must collapse!!! We will collapse it!

troublemakea:


and you re a certified slowpoke who's not supposed to signify when intellect people are speaking

Bidobado:

'Intellect people'??!!! I told you, you are a dumb Muthafucka. Now, Fvck right off.

troublemakea:


the dumb motherfucker here's you buddy

so for the world to experience peace US gotta die down? your a big FOOL man

Bidobado:


You remind me of a Fvcking bitch who has been told to Fvck off many times but won't.
Why are you such a troll.. Get a Fvcking life and Jog on you knob.

Lipscomb:
[s]USA my foot.what concern them about Nigeria government? Sometime USA talking as if all is well with them on 27th 10 people were killed by homicide in Chicago just to mark memorial day.[/s]

vickzdvipe:

My comment is self-explanatory. Tread the paths of the Whites with caution. Don't be easily swayed into thinking a man from a land thousands of miles away have your "best" interest at heart.