Alleged Death In Detention: Military Refutes AI’s Claims

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has debunked Amnesty International (AI’s) claims, that 149 civilians, including babies, died while being held at a detention facility in Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

AI had alleged at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, that 11 children and four babies were among the aforementioned number that died in a military detention facility.
But, the DHQ, in a statement Thursday by its spokesman, Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said AI’s claim is “baseless, unfounded and source-less.”
“The Nigerian military has completely disassociated itself from the report of Amnesty International which claims that some civilians died in a detention cell at Giwa Barracks. The accusation comes as a surprise and shock because the organisation has accessed the facilities and made recommendations which were implemented.
“It is rather unfortunate that an organisation of higher repute such as Amnesty International could come around to release a report which is completely baseless, unfounded and source-less with the intent of denting the image of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“We will not be deterred by this report, but would remain committed to the task we have started against the Boko Haram terrorists until they are annihilated,” the DHQ said.