The Federal Government has accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of colluding with some human rights organisations to aggravate the security challenges facing the country.
Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, made the accusation at a media briefing he addressed in Lagos.
According to Mohammed, while the security agencies continued to battle bandits and terrorists, the ICC and some international human rights organisations have constituted themselves into another ‘fighting force’ against the country.
He explained that while security forces were fending off attacks on many fronts, the organisations were constantly harassing and threatening them with the investigation and possible prosecution over alleged crimes against humanity and other war crimes.
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“The Federal Government frowns at this unbridled attempt to demoralise our security men and women as they confront the onslaught from bandits and terrorists. Nigeria did not join the ICC so it can become a pawn on the court’s chessboard.
“It beggars belief to see that a nation fighting an existential war against bandits and terrorists is constantly being held down by an international body which it willingly joined. Nigeria is a sovereign state and will not surrender its sovereignty to any organisation.
“ICC, Amnesty International and their cohorts should desist from threatening our troops and putting the security of our country in jeopardy,’’ he said.
The minister said it was sad that the organisations mostly rely on fake news and disinformation to reach their conclusions.
He recalled the ENDSARS protest and the report by Cable News Network (CNN) of a massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate.
“As it turned out, it was a massacre without bodies and we called CNN out and petitioned the otherwise respected global news network. Though they acknowledged receipt of our petition, we have yet to hear from them on what actions they intend to take to prevent a recurrence of the fake news they peddled about Nigeria.
“I can assure you, gentlemen that the matter is far from over,’’ he said.
