The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Saturday denied recent claims by an official of Amnesty International that its military personnel were involved in gross violation of human rights and torture in the North east.

The military authorities in a statement issued on its behalf by its acting Director of Information, Rabe Abubakar, a Colonel, said the accusations were false.

It was quick to add that the present military leadership had never been indicted in its war against the terrorists.

“It is pertinent to state here that the allegation has been convincingly refuted and proven to be an orchestrated conspiracy against the Nigerian Armed Forces. The DHQ also wishes to once again remind the Nigerian public and the international community that the Nigerian military is a professional organization with track records of achievements in peacekeeping operations and therefore shares no comparison with rag-tag band of terrorists whatsoever,” the statement said.

It noted that the military was constitutionally empowered to secure Nigeria from any form of insecurity and to do so within internationally approved rules of engagement.

“It is therefore unfair for Amnesty International and any other group to accuse the Nigerian military of human rights abuse based on cropped images used by the country’s enemies and detractors to achieve their purpose.” the military added.

It said the military would never brazenly humiliate any Nigerian under any guise but would do its best to protect every citizen.

The Nigerian military has consistently come under the hammer of local and international activists for its perceived poor human rights records.

Recently, the media circulated pictures of a suspect being humiliated at the Mararaba axis of Nassarawa State by a soldier deployed to the area, which attracted national outrage.