Nigerian Army Uses Trump’s “Treat Rocks Like Rifles” Comment To Justify Having Killed 45 Protesters [VIDEO]

Buzzfeed News reports:

Trump said in a speech on Thursday that rocks thrown by migrants on the US–Mexico border should be considered as firearms. By Friday, the Nigerian army had already used a video of the speech to justify shooting protesters that a human rights group said were unarmed.

“We’re not going to put up with that. If they want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back,” Trump said. “We’re going to consider — and I told them, consider it a rifle.”

On Friday, the official Twitter account of the Nigerian army tweeted a video of the comments, along with the words “please watch and make your deductions.”

The Daily Beast reports:

The tweet comes just days after the army shot and killed 45 Muslim protesters in the capital city of Abuja. The army maintains that the protesters were armed, and claims that only six were killed.

Nigeria’s defense spokesperson, Brig. Gen. John Agim, confirmed that the army had tweeted the Trump video to dispel criticism that it violated the law.

Trump’s comments have been lambasted domestically, as former military officials note that treating rocks as rifles would violate rules of engagement and military values.

Please Watch and Make your Deductions. pic.twitter.com/05yVwULFoh

— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) November 2, 2018