The International Centre for Disaster Management (ICDM) has lashed out at the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) for attempting to pursue terrorists’ agenda with its “fabricated” report on missing persons in the North-East.
ICDM, a renowned stakeholder in humanitarian crisis management, believes this is a deliberate move to destabilize the remarkable momentum garnered by the Nigerian military in recent times, thereby giving unfair advantage to the insurgents.
Addressing the media at a press conference on Thursday in Lagos, ICDM’s Country Rep, Rowland Onyeke was critical of the once-highly respected humanitarian group which has now been reduced to Boko Haram/ISWAP puppets.
Mr Onyeke reckoned that this may be born out of desperation on the part of Red Cross to cover its tracks following recent high-profile scandals that have rocked its operation in the country.
Having lost relevance and credibility, the Centre revealed that the ICRC has resorted to propaganda and blackmail, covertly promoting the interest of those foreign bodies, benefiting from the crisis in the region.
The International Centre for Disaster Management, therefore, labelled ICRC’s action as an attempt to cover-up and cause a distraction from its activities that have been suspect in recent times and subjected to scrutiny the military authorities.
The Centre, however, urged Nigerians to ignore such mischievous reports.
Read full statement below:
We welcome you all to this all-important press conference which is put together at the instance of the various allegations levelled against the Nigerian Military in operation in North-East Nigeria, by the International Committee for Red Cross in Nigeria. (ICRC)
The International Centre for Disaster Management is a stakeholder in managing the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and has been actively involved in efforts towards mitigating the effects of the humanitarian crisis that has come about as a result of the war against terrorism in North East Nigeria.
As an organization, we have transverse the length and breadth of North-East Nigeria since 2009, when the Boko Haram terrorist group began a violent campaign against Nigeria. As such, we are conversant with the operations of the Nigerian Military in the region and can as well speak authoritatively on matters that revolve around military operations in North-East Nigeria, as well as the activities of NGOs in operation in the area.
The International Centre for Disaster Management is therefore alarmed by the narrative pushed forward by the ICRC against the Nigerian Military. As a critical stakeholder, we are duty-bound to put the issues in proper perspective and disabuse the minds of the unsuspecting members of the general public.
As a first, there is no iota of truth in the narrative by the ICRC against the Nigerian Military because, in all of the years, the ICDM has been actively involved in operations in North-East Nigeria; the Nigerian Military has exhibited a high level of professionalism. It has equally extended courtesy where the need arises to NGOs operating in the region.
This is also of the heels that the activities of some NGOs have been suspect, given their penchant for wanting to have the Military divulge sensitive operational, strategic documents to them; the Nigerian Military had remained courteous.
The International Centre for Disaster Management consequently sees the allegations by the ICRC as not only baseless but also a figment of their imagination that is geared towards causing an unnecessary distraction to the troops in operations in North-East Nigeria.
The International Centre for Disaster Management wishes to state that with this posture of the ICRC engaging in propaganda, there is a tendency that it has joined the league of international NGOs that are covertly fuelling the war in North East Nigeria by giving the Boko Haram terrorist the needed psychological boost, as well as humanitarian supplies.
The International Centre for Disaster Management wishes to state that this is nothing but an attempt by the ICRC to hide the various acts of corruption been perpetuated by its personnel, as well as that of other international NGOs operating in North-East Nigeria.
The ICRC ought to do good by looking into its operations in North-East Nigeria to put its house in order as it is evident that it has, for inexplicable reasons, abandoned its noble objective in return for a plate of porridge.
The International Centre for Disaster Management challenges the ICRC to prove that it is not aware that its personnel in North-East Nigeria have not been highly compromised and are working hands in hands with some other NGOs that have been mobilized to provide support to the Boko Haram terrorists through subtle ways to evade the prying eyes of the military authorities.
The International Centre for Disaster Management wishes to state that the actions of the ICRC are a smokescreen to shift attention from the nefarious activities of its personnel in North-East Nigeria.
It also suffices to state that the ICRC has lost credibility. In an attempt to gain relevance, they have resorted to propaganda and blackmail, while covertly promoting the interest of those foreign bodies that do not want the war against terrorism to come to an end.
The International Centre for Disaster Management does not see the ICRC as a worthy partner in progress, but one that has hidden under the nomenclature to perpetrate crimes against humanity.
The International Centre for Disaster Management sees this recent action of the ICRC as an attempt to cover-up and cause a distraction from its activities that have been suspect in recent times and subjected to scrutiny the military authorities.
The International Centre for Disaster Management wishes to use this medium to inform the members of the general public that the ICRC has lost focus in delivering its core mandate. As such, the public should always view whatever comes from its stable with a pinch of salt.
We once again reiterate that the allegations against the Nigerian Military are baseless and of poor taste intended to mislead unsuspecting members of the general public.
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