By Abdullahi Mohammed
The Secretary General Amnesty International ,Mr Salil Shetty has reiterated the organization’s concerns over human rights violations by Boko Haram as well as the Nigerian military
Shetty highlighted these concerns during a meeting with Nigeria’s President elect General Muhammadu Buhari at the Defense House in Abuja.
” My name is Salil Shetty , I am the Secretary General amnesty international, we are very happy we got the chance to meet you sir, the president elect general Buhari, mainly to talk about Amnesty International’s concerns in relation to human rights in Nigeria”
” Our number one concern right now is conflict in the north east.Just a couple of months ago we released a report on the atrocities and what we called crimes against humanity from boko haram sect. More than five thousand , five hundred civilians have been killed in the last few months or so and more than two thousand women and girls have been abducted and we condemned these and called on the government to take action and protect the citizens in the north east”.
He said further,” But equally we are very concerned with the violations committed from the side of the military and I have personally come here to bring to your notice all that we are concerned about on the rights and violation of human rights “.
Responding ,General Muhammadu Buhari commended Amnesty International’s efforts and good work. ” You are most welcome and we appreciate your effort on your humanitarinan works”.
” I assure you on the protection of life and property. Like I have said before ,security is our number one target in our agenda. Insurgency in the north east, kidnapping and militancy in the south east and south south ….”, l Buhari said.
