A plot to sabotage the war against terrorism in the country being spearheaded by the Boko Haram sect has been uncovered, the Nigerian Army said last night.

Acting Army Director Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said that as part of the plot “some foreign media, Nongovernmental and Civil Society Organizations in collaboration with some of their Nigerian affiliates and Civil Society Organizations for reasons best known to them are about to start making false claims of alleged human rights violations by the Nigerian Army.”

“It is clear that these groups of people and their collaborators are not happy with the progress made on the efforts to solve the security problems bedevilling our nation as manifested in the terrorists activities. The implication of such act is not lost on us as it is capable of thwarting the gains in the fight against terrorism and insurgency,” Col. Usman said.

He lamented that “these unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements are far less concerned about the general well being of our citizens,” adding: “They are driven by material and pecuniary gains. The Nigerian Army would like to reiterate and renew its commitment to upholding human right principles and practice. We have been protecting human rights and we are not party to any breach of human rights in our country or during any of our operations. We would not condone any human rights abuses. Where there are allegations of human rights violation by any individual or group, this would be thoroughly investigated and those found guilty would be brought to book in accordance with extant laws. Therefore, the Nigerian Army would not succumb to blackmail and neither would it be distracted from its determined effort of defending the territorial integrity of our great nation and safeguarding the security of its citizens. We would continue to solicit the support of well meaning Nigerians in this regards.”

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