Lai Mohammed: ICC, Amnesty aggravating Nigeria’s security challenges

The Federal Government has accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Amnesty International, among other rights groups of frustrating efforts to tackle the Nigeria’s security challenges.

It alleged that the groups were attacking security forces and threatening them with investigation and possible prosecution over war crimes and human rights abuses.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this at a press conference in Lagos while reviewing achievements of the government in 2020.

He also faulted the position of those he described as “jaundiced analysts and their lapdogs,’’ who declared that Nigeria is a failing or failed state due to its security challenges.

He said, “Nigeria is fending off attacks on many fronts, not just from terrorists and bandits, but also from some human rights organisations and the International Criminal Court (ICC), which seem to have colluded to exacerbate the challenges facing the country in the area of security.

“While our security agencies continue to battle these bandits and terrorists, the ICC and some international human rights organisations, especially Amnesty International, have constituted themselves to another ‘fighting force’ against Nigeria, constantly harassing our security forces and threatening them with investigation and possible prosecution over alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes. Unfortunately, a section of the local media has been parroting these organisations without weighing the impact of their constant threats on the security of the nation.”

The minister condemned the “unbridled attempt to demoralise our security men and women as they confront the onslaught from bandits and terrorists.”

He said Nigeria would not surrender its sovereignty to the ICC as it did not join “the ICC so it can become a pawn on the court’s chessboard. It beggars belief to see that a nation that is fighting an existential war against bandits and terrorists is constantly being held down by an international body which it willingly joined.”

He also said, the “ICC, Amnesty International and their cohorts should desist from threatening our troops and putting the security of our country in jeopardy. Enough is enough.”

He said the ICC and Amnesty International based their allegations on fake news and disinformation, citing the CNN report that alleged that the army shot unarmed protesters at the Lekki Tollgate during the EndSARS protest.

“As you are aware, we called CNN out and also petitioned the network. Though they acknowledged receipt of our petition, we have yet to hear from them on what actions they intend to take to prevent a recurrence of the fake news they peddled about Nigeria. I can assure you, that the matter is far from over,” he added.

The minister allayed fears of fresh lockdown over rising cases of COVID-19.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had no intention of imposing any lockdown, but lamented that Nigerians were not obeying the health guidelines such as wearing of face masks and social distancing to curtail further spread of the virus.

Mohammed also faulted the position of those describing Nigeria as a failed state, saying that the gloomy prediction would not come to pass.

He added that the country would rise to become a more respected member of the comity of nations.

The minister said, “You would remember that for the past two decades or so, some pseudo-analysts have been predicting the country’s implosion.

“That has not happened, hence they have found a new watchword – failing or failed state!

“It’s all a ruse aimed at depicting Nigeria as being in a constant state of anarchy so they can achieve their nefarious objectives for the country.”

According to him, notwithstanding the antics of the analysts who constituted themselves into another ‘fighting force,’ the country has made tremendous progress in tackling bandits and Boko Haram terrorists.

He said, “If Nigeria was not a ‘failing’ state when a large slice of its territory equivalent to the size of Belgium was under the occupation of Boko Haram, which collected taxes, installed and deposed emirs, is it now that no territory is under the terrorists that Nigeria will be a failing state?

“If Nigeria was not a failed state when bombs were raining on towns and cities in Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Borno, Yobe, FCT and other states, is it now that such bombings have stopped that Nigeria will be described as a ‘failing’ state?

“If Nigeria was not a ‘failing’ state in those years that Christian and Muslim worshippers needed to be screened to even enter their places of worship, is it now that the siege on places of worship has ceased that Nigeria will be described as a ‘failing’ state?’’ Mohammed said it was sad that many people had forgotten where the country was in terms of the state of insecurity just a few years back.”

The minister commended the military and other security agencies for their patriotism and commitment to the anti-terror war.