Amnesty International’s call came a day ahead of President Buhari’s visit to the United Kingdom (UK), to attend the ‘Supporting Syria Conference’ in London. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Amnesty International also reiterated its call on the UK government to ensure any military assistance provided to Nigeria was keeping in line with human rights standards and not provided to units accused of crimes under international law and other serious violations of human rights. “We have documented crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations committed by the Nigerian military in its fight against the armed group, Boko Haram. “Since 2012, Nigeria’s soldiers have extrajudicially executed more than 1,200 men and boys; since 2011, more than 7,000 men and boys died in military detention as a result of starvation, torture, extreme overcrowding and denial of medical assistance, and more than 20,000 people have been arrested in the course of security operations in north-east Nigeria since 2009. “Amnesty International has also named nine top-ranking officials who should be investigated for potential individual or command responsibility for the war crimes,” the statement read in part. The body also raised concerns over the reinstatement of Major-General Ahmadu Mohammed, one of senior commanders named in Amnesty International’s 2015 report, who was the commander of operations when soldiers reportedly killed more than 640 unarmed recaptured detainees, following a Boko Haram attack on the detention centre in Giwa barracks on March 14, 2014. Amnesty International also alleged that video footage and witness testimony revealed soldiers shot or cut the throats of the detainees and then threw them into mass graves. “Charges of the worst possible crimes have been levelled against the Nigerian military. Just days after taking office, President Buhari stated that he would leave no stone unturned to promote the rule of law and that he would look into our findings. “It is bitterly disappointing then, that nearly one year on from taking office, Buhari had done nothing to independently investigate these egregious crimes. “David Cameron must raise these issues with President Buhari when they meet this week,” Amnesty International UK Director, Kate Allen, said. “This is no time for a diplomatic tap-dance around matters of mass unlawful killings, arbitrary arrest and deaths in detention. Cameron must use this opportunity to help bring justice to the families of the victims of these horrendous abuses,” she added.]]>