The Nigerian military has assured the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North-East (SIIP-NE) of its readiness to cooperate with the panel, including making available officers that may be needed in the process. investigation.
This was made known by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Tony Ojukwu in a statement on Thursday.
Ojukwu said the high military authority also assured Nigerians of the security and safety of the panel members and other people who may participate in the proceedings of the panel.
Ojukwu said that during his visit to the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor commended the Commission for doing to investigate Reuters allegations of human rights abuses against the Military.
According to CDS, Reuters’ allegations about pregnancy abortions in the North East are false and are a tactic to demoralize troops in the field of operations.
The Military Commander stated that with the Reuters report “our professional standing has been questioned”, adding that the Armed Forces continue to display a high level of commitment in national service.
Despite the sacrifices by the troops, he said that some individuals, territorial or extra-territorial have decided to tarnish the image of the military.
According to him, other Independent media organizations have conducted several investigations into the Reuters allegations and suggested that the panel could be useful in examining other media reports on counter-insurgency operations in the North East.
Continuing, he noted that the Reuters report regretted that pregnancy abortions were regulated by the federal government, implying that they were approved by the Government and overseen by the military.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary told the CDS that the purpose of the visit was to formally request the military’s cooperation in investigating allegations of human rights abuses by the military in the North East.
The retired High Court Justice told General Irabor that the investigation is in the interest of the military and Nigeria in general and that the panel will be fair to all parties and adhere to the rules of natural justice.