The Olowu of Kuta in Ayedire Local Government area of Osun state, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama has called on soldiers of the Nigerian army not to be demoralised by Friday’s statement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which suggested that Nigeria’s fighting forces committed war crimes in the fight against Boko Haram.
The Oba who said he aligned with the position of the army authorities that the ICC statement was capable of demoralizing the troops called on leaders across the country to speak out in support of our soldiers who continue to pay the supreme sacrifice so that the country can be safe for all.
He urged the troops to look at the big picture and continue their service to the nation without giving room for distractions, local and international conspiracies which indirectly serve the cause of terrorists.
The Olowu said it was sad and unfortunate that the ICC prosecutor attacked the credibility of our fighting forces at this critical point in Nigeria’s war against terrorism.
He therefore called on all genuine lovers of Nigeria and believers in the rights of the people to rally round Nigerian soldiers and condemn pronouncements which support and strengthen enemies of the people which was what the ICC statement was.
The Oba urged the troops to continue to fight and forge ahead in their godly mission of securing the country and its people and flush out terrorists from the Nigerian space while counselling them to remain law abiding at all times.
The Prosecutor General of the International Criminal Court (ICC) had on Friday, 12 December, 2020, alleged that she had found a reasonable basis to believe that “members of the Nigerian Security Forces (“NSF”)” committed acts constituting crimes against humanity and war crimes in the ongoing campaigns against Boko Haram.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TY Buratai, however responded promptly enjoining Nigerian troops to ignore the distractions and not get demoralized by those moves of the ICC.
The traditional ruler says “we know their stock in trade, anytime our patriotic troops are gaining upper hands against the insurgents both local and foreign collaborators always find ways to demoralised our troops ” i as a father and traditional Ruler urge our gallant forces to move decisively against the insurgents brutally.
