CHIEF of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Adesola Amosu has described as “biased and hypocritical” the “twisted opinion of Amnesty International on the activities of the Nigerian Military in the ongoing war against Boko Haram terrorists even as a 26 year old Flying Officer, killed by the insurgents was buried.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the burial of Late Flying Officer Duke Linus Toryem, who was killed in the course of duty in Sambisa forest by mines planted by the terrorists. Amosu said: “We want Africa and the Third World to speak with one voice , particularly to be able to use the proper words in describing what happens in the theatre of war. You are fighting combatants that are in mufti but that does not make them noncombatants.
“The fact that you do not see them does not make them less combatants. I think it is high time the law on armed conflicts is reviewed”.
He said the prejudice exhibited by Amnesty International in judging the military activities of developing countries is worrisome and better off disregarded.
“”It is really unfortunate. Because here in Africa and Nigeria in particular, what they would call equilateral damages, they would describe and refer to it as human rights’ violation. But out there, it is equilateral damage. When it is equilateral damage, let us use the appropriate words and stop calling it human rights violations.
“Here, instead of saying hostages were rescued they would rather call it displaced people , as if freedom is not involved. It is really unfortunate”, he said.
Of the late officer, Amosu said: “Flying Officer Toryem was a courageous officer.
Apart from being an Air Force officer , he was a member of the Special Force that is physically on the ground fighting in Sambisa Forest. It is unfortunate what happened to him.”
In a condolence message to Toryem’s family, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh represented by Rear Admiral Austin Oyagha called for sober reflection and lauded the late Toryem for paying the supreme prize in protection of his father land.
The late Flying officer Duke Toryem was killed on 21st May, when an operational vehicle he was riding in hit a land mine planted by terrorists in the forest and exploded in flames.
