Boko Haram sponsored by foreign countries – FG

Boko Haram sponsored by foreign
countries – FG
on october 22, 2013 at 5:01 pm in news
By Innocent Anaba
The Nigerian Government, Tuesday, told the United
Nations Human Rights Council, that the Boko Haram
insurgents in some parts of the country were being
sponsored by some foreign countries.
Nigeria, also said that it will not bow to international
pressure to allow same sex-marriage in the
country, arguing that same was against its cultural
and traditional values.
It also justified the execution of death row inmates
in the country, contending that same was in
accordance with its laws.
Nineteen suspected members of the Ahlan Sunnah
Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa brothers, also
known as Boko Haram arraingned at the Chief
Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja. Photo by
Abayomi Adeshida
Defending Nigeria’s human rights record at the on-
going 17th session of the Universal Peer Review,
UPR mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council in
Geneva, Switzerland, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN,
the country’s Minister of Justice and Attorney
General of the Federation, said “Nigeria is
experiencing the impact of externally-induced
internal security challenges,  manifesting in the
activities of militant insurgents and organised crime
groups which has led to the violation of the human
rights of many Nigerians.
To address the problem, the government has
adopted constitutional measures which include the
“declaration of a state of emergency” in the states
of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe of the Northeast
Nigeria, where the insurgents have their base. As a
result, a Joint Task Force and a Special Task Force
have been deployed with the required legislative
authorization to utilize rightsbased “Rules of
Engagement” and “Operational Plans” in combating
the insurgency.
“However, the Nigerian Government has kept open
communication channels through the activities of a
Presidential Committee on Security Challenges
towards working out a peaceful resolution of the
crisis. Meanwhile, Government has already
proscribed Boko Haram as well as the Jamāʿatu
Anṣāril Muslimīna fī Bilādis Sūdān and stipulated a
20-year jail term for anybody who aids or sponsors
them in any manner whatsoever. The Government
has also put in place an amnesty programme to
dissuade terrorists and other extremists from
violence.
“The Nigerian Government has taken other
measures to improve security, including enactment
of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 and its
subsequent amendment in 2013 to broaden the
scope of its application; development of a Counter
Terrorism Strategy and creation of crisis
management centre in the office of the National
Security Adviser; coordination of enhanced capacity
building for all security and intelligence outfits at
both the strategic and tactical levels; the National
Security Adviser coordinates efforts among the
security and intelligence agencies to ensure
protection of the human rights of all persons in
counter terrorism operations.
Human rights standards have been incorporated in
the training curricula of all operatives and
coordination of a security awareness programme
for ministers and other functionaries of
government.”
On same sex-marriage, he “Nigeria does not
accept recommendation of some country on the
matter, because same-sex marriage is against its
national values. Recent polling data suggests that 92
percent of Nigerians support the Anti Same-Sex
Marriage Bill passed by the Senate.
“The Marriage Act defines marriage as a
relationship between a man and a woman.
Christianity and Islam, which are the major religions
in Nigeria, also recognize marriage as relationship
between a man  and woman.
Same-sex marriage is not in the culture of
Nigerians. Sexual and gender minorities are not
visible in Nigeria and there is no officially registered
association of gays and lesbians. In writing this
report, a consultation and validation process was
held with various stakeholders where the issue of
same-sex marriage was brought up, and the
general view of the participants was that same-sex
marriage was not a human rights issue in Nigeria.”
On death row inmates execution, he said “he right of
man to life is the most fundamental human right.
Government uses the death penalty as a deterrent
to protect human life. Section 33 (1) of Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 guarantees
the right to life. It provides ‘’ Every person has a
right to life, and no one shall be deprived
intentionally of his life, save in execution of the
sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence
of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.’’
“The Penal code and Criminal code prescribe death
sentence for anybody who commits culpable
homicide punishable with death and murder
respectively. Death penalty is a valid part of
Nigerian law.
In Nigeria today, offences that are punishable by
death include murder, treason, directing or
presiding at an unlawful trial by ordeal from which
death results, and armed robbery.”