The Nigerian Army has raised concerns that there is an impending campaign of human rights infractions against it as it strives to quell the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to a statement issued by the army spokesperson, Usman Sani, some foreign media, civil organisations and their Nigerian counterparts, who he referred to as unscrupulous and unpatriotic, are driven by pecuniary and material gains and are not happy with the army’s success against the insurgents.

“It has come to our knowledge that some foreign media, Nongovernmental and Civil Society Organizations in collaboration with some of their Nigerian affiliates and Civil Society Organizations for reasons best known to them are about to start making false claims of alleged human rights violations by the Nigerian Army,” Sani said.

“It is clear that these groups of people and their collaborators are not happy with the progress made on the efforts to solve the security problems bedevilling our nation as manifested in the terrorists’ activities. These unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements are far less concerned about the general wellbeing of our citizens.”

The Nigerian military and other security agencies have been tainted in the past by reports of severe human rights violations and these contributed to the inability of the government to secure military aids from countries like the U.S.

President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear he will not tolerate human rights abuses and the army has said it is committed to respecting human rights, adding that it would investigate any reports of abuses and punish offenders.

“We would not condone any Human rights abuses. Where there are allegations of human rights violation by any individual or group, this would be thoroughly investigated and those found guilty would be brought to book in accordance with extant laws,” the army said.

The army, however, said it is not deterred in its efforts to safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians and would not be distracted or succumb to blackmail.