Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has described those calling for the probation of the immediate former service chiefs by the International Criminal Court (ICC) unpatriotic.

The minister said this on Tuesday during a Radio Nigeria programme, Politics Nationwide.

Few days after the appointment of the new service chiefs, the Peoples Democratic Party and some other Nigerians have called on ICC to commence the investigation of the tenure of Nigeria’s immediate past service chiefs over reported atrocities and crimes against humanity committed by security operatives under their command.

They also demanded that the ex-service chiefs: General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff); Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff); Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff); and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff), should unravel circumstances behind the security lapses during their tenure.

Reacting to this calls, the minister said, “To the best of my knowledge, our service chiefs obey the rules of engagement and where there are infractions, there are internal regulations and internal mechanisms to address them.

“Those who are calling for the ex-service chiefs to be invited to ICC are unpatriotic people.

“Those who talk about the structure, what do they know about the structure of the military? I don’t think any of us is competent to talk about the structure of the military.,”

He, however, assured Nigerians that the new service chiefs would overcome the insurgency in the North-East and in other parts of the country.