A civil society organisation Friday urged Amnesty International to soft pedal on its allegations  accusing  the Nigerian military of unethical practices and infringement of  laid down procedures of engagement in its current war against the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.

 The group, Coalition of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Good Governance in Nigeria, COCMEGG, rising from a stakeholders meeting of civil society organizations and media executives from across the country described  the Amnesty International report in which the allegations as a caase dabbling into the internal affairs of, and playing politics with the territorial sovereignty of Nigeria and its citizens.

 President of COCMEGG, Mr. Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele in a statement issued after the meeting maintained that  Amnesty International's  negative rating and name calling of the Nigerian Army and the perception index of the army internationally in regards to the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram  could at best be described as  'frequent dabbling and negative narratives'. 

 "Given Nigerian military's proactive  engagement  and  capability in safe guarding the nation, it has been proven over time, that some of these reports are inaccurate and over exaggerated, especially those regarding  extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, detentions and torture of prisoners in the line of duty. We disagree totally with Amnesty's report  in all its ramifications.

"Amnesty International's report smacks of bias and is capable of undermining the results from the hard fought war by the army against the insurgents, demoralizing the Nigeria Army personnel in the performance of their constitutional. 

 "Unfortunately, while Amnesty hyped its allegations against the Nigerian Army, it underplayed  the various casualties in human capital, resources and loss of lives of the experienced by our gallant military  in the discharge of their national and constitutional duty to defend the territorial integrity of the nation"

 Aigbegbele further maintained that the several  commentaries against Nigerian Army are unnecessary, distractive, unfair, and doesn’t represent the true disclosure of the prosecution of the war against the insurgents by the Nigerian Army. 

 He affirmed that no effort should be spared to curb and end the onslaught against the insurgents and reverse the myriads of human rights abuses and issues that have undermined our collective national existence and territorial integrity including the right to life and freedom of association. 

 According to him, Nigerians  more than ever before have rated the army higher since the prosecution of the war:  In an opinion poll conducted recently, the army came uppermost as a reputable and most priced profession since the present headship led by Lt. Gen. Buratai. And buttressing the world acclaimed fame of the Nigerian Army which has risen tremendously on peacekeeping operations and other special missions and assignments across the globe on professional competence. The present leadership of the army has centered its core values on professionalism, human capital development, discipline, transparency and above all, reforms in all its ramifications like never before. The soldiers are not only professionally inclined but friendly in approach to civil populace and more patriotic to the Nigerian cause having maintained a high “espirit de corps” and are highly motivated while assuming the culture and traditions including assimilating the languages of host communities during war by building relationships with civilians to boost their confidence and gather security intelligence.

 "Accordingly, COCMEGG believes that the  Nigerian soldiers have been transformed, repositioned and can now vouch for their integrity and splendor including their competence when the need arises", the statement read,  positing that some of the allegations are rife and debatable urging  the Amnesty International to join hands with the Nigerian military to assist in the regaining of freedom of the kidnapped girls, provide logistics for the IDP's camps including the socio-economic development of the northeast region so as to foster peace and tranquility.

 COCMEGG further enjoined like minds across the country to give the NIgerian Army a pat on the back for  its forthrightness, leadership and the various victories recorded so far against Boko Haram. 

 "It will therefore be very unfair to smear the reputation of the military, even as we call for international  leverage and assistance to end this war,  we stand with the Nigerian Army and affirm that  Nigerians also stand on the side of the Nigerian Army and implicitly pass a vote of confidence on our military and  urge them to remain focus on the task at hand", the statement concluded