Abuja: The Nigeria Safety and Peace Solidarity Movement (NSPSM), a civil society organisation, has accused Amnesty International (AI) of exaggerating Nigeria’s security situation in its recent report. Mr Andrew Kato, General Secretary of NSPSM, stated this while briefing newsmen on the report on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Kato emphasized the importance of disseminating accurate information for achieving peace and stability in the country. He criticized AI for its claims that Nigerian authorities had failed to protect lives and property from daily attacks by armed groups and bandits. Kato expressed alarm at the report, asserting that it does not reflect the current situation on the ground.
Kato further questioned AI’s motivations, noting inconsistencies in their reports. He pointed out that AI reported high death tolls in various states but also highlighted alleged human rights violations against arrested terrorists and gunmen. He urged Nigerians to scrutinize AI’s intentions and questioned why the organization had not strongly condemned the activities of those committing crimes against innocent Nigerians.
Kato criticized the AI report for not thoroughly examining the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and the Armed Forces in addressing security challenges. While acknowledging existing issues, he argued that the measures being taken outweigh the concerns raised by Amnesty International. He also questioned the selection of sources for the report and suggested that AI should have sought perspectives from areas where military efforts had been effective.
He suggested that AI’s actions might align with accusations by Nigerian authorities that external forces have ulterior motives in the country. He emphasized that while global security challenges are intensifying, AI is portraying Nigeria’s situation disproportionately. Kato highlighted the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces and urged Nigerians to support the troops, rejecting any group working to deepen security challenges.