President says probing Amnesty report will be Attorney General’s first assignment

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that whoever is appointed Attorney-General of the Federation would be required to investigate the recent Amnesty International report on the Nigerian Army as one of his first assignments.

The report accuses the country’s troops of committing horrific human rights violations while waging war on Boko Haram.

Buhari made the declaration on Friday, June 12, via a statement released by his media aide, Garba Shehu.

It reads in part:

“The president is quite disturbed by the allegations contained in the report. The next step is to look into the allegations and confirm or disprove the disturbing details.”

“Any allegation of human rights abuse that takes place during the tenure of President Buhari’s government will be swiftly investigated and dealt with.”

Amnesty International is also seeking the investigation of senior Nigerian officers, including then Chief of Army Staff, Azuibike Ihejirika, who it accuses of turning a blind eye to the abuses.