Nigeria’s military authorities have refuted a media report that 4,000 people died in military custody.
British newspaper, Daily Independent, claimed that Nigerian soldiers committed war crimes by terrorising local residents in areas worst-hit by Boko Haram insurgency.
A statement issued by the Defence Headquarters accused the British paper of disdain and bias against Nigeria.
Part of the statement reads; “The report credited to the British newspaper, Daily Independent, UK, in which it claimed that ‘Nigerian Government committed war crimes by terrorising some of its citizens in the war against insurgency’ is to say the least, unduly judgemental and quite consistent with the disdain and bias with which a section of the western media reports Africa.
“Is it not preposterous to even suggest that ‘4,000 people have died in military custody…’ when it is on record that suspected terrorists are held in various facilities while being processed for prosecution?
“At what point then did 4,000 people die in military custody?
“This ludicrous report did not come as a surprise to anybody since this biased mind-set against Nigerian Government has always characterised this newspaper even before the commencement of the ongoing counter-terrorist operation.”
The Nigerian military also urged Nigerians to ignore the British newspaper report or any future video it may post on its website.
