BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at the weekend said the failure of Reuters to make itself available before an investigation panel to substantiate its allegations that the Nigerian army committed deliberate acts of rights violations in its operations in North east Nigeria debunks its allegations.
Mr. Hillary Ogbonna, a Senior Human Rights Adviser at the NHRC, stated this on Friday while presenting the findings of the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North-East (SIIP North-East) at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center, venue of the Civil-Military Forum on Human Rights.
Mr. Ogbonna said, given the gravity of the allegations that Reuters, an international news agency, made in its three part report entitled “Nightmare in Nigeria” the Commission had expected that the media outlet will provide compelling evidence to enable it act on it.
Mr Ogbonna, who frowned at the deliberate absence of Reuters during the course of investigation said their action seems to give a lie to their report and present a semblance of a hatchet job.
He also noted that the international medical group, Medecins Sans Frontieres,MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, were also a no show during the investigation but announced that the group has since reached out to the NHRC with a view to clarifying their position after noting the findings and recommendations of the investigative panel.
In his welcome and opening address, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said the Findings and Recommendations of SIIP North-East is very instructive.
Dr. Ojukwu said, “ these findings highlight serious concerns regarding human rights violations in the region, including the killing of civilians in Abisari, Borno State, and allegations of forced abortions and violence against women and children.
“Our primary goal is to bring together the Nigerian military and the NHRC to collaboratively reflect on these findings and discuss practical steps for the implementation of the panels recommendations.”
The ES said the NHRC believes that the issues being discussed at the moment is not just about past violations but “about ensuring that we create a future where human rights are central to the operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces.”
Representatives of the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA; National Security and Civil Defence Corp, NCDC; Federal Road Safety Corp, FRSC; Nigeria Customs Service, NCS among others, in their goodwill messages all commended the NHRC for its efforts in addressing rights of Nigerians saying their organisations are not just taking notes but already incorporating human rights principles in their operations.
Dr. Benson Olugbuo, who gave a lecture on “An overview of the draft National Policy for Protection of Civilians and Civilian Harm Mitigation Strategy” reiterated the need for Nigerian security institutions to adopt international best practices in principle and legislation to guide its operations as it relates to dealing with civilians in there areas of operations.
This was also reiterated by Colonel Yakubu Bako, rtd, a former Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, who represented the Chairman of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, where he said though suspects in drug crimes usually face stiff actions internationally, the NDLEA has never shirked its human rights responsibilities.
At the close of the event, copies of the report of the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in North-East Nigeria, (SIIP North-East) were unveiled by participants and distributed to the various security agencies and stakeholders.
