BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Executive Secretary of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC), Mr. Tony Ojukwu has described the Amnesty International (AI) allegation of human right violation against the Nigerian military as “vague and lacks credibility”.
Amnesty International had in its latest report alleged that Nigerian soldiers raped thousands of women and girls who escaped from Boko Haram insurgents.
AI also alleged that soldiers fighting Boko Haram had killed many people who refused to be moved from territories rescued from the insurgents.
But Ojukwu denied the claims in Adamawa while fielding questions during a two day workshop to improve capacity of the military and paramilitary personnel in identifying protection of civil populace in counter insurgency operations.
He said such allegation of human rights violation by the military was a heavy indictment that should be taken seriously if it was substantiated with facts or data to show such violations.
Ojukwu challenged AI to always verify its claims before making indictments that are capable of causing havoc and apprehension among people.
He further said; “The allegation by Amnesty International is vague and lacks credibility. This is because it will be difficult to investigate all this claims considering the large number of military personnel deployed to different formations and locations in the Northeast.
“You cannot send the country into a wide goose chase to find out who sexually assaulted anybody if there is no facts to back up your claims.”
The NHRC boss said the training would exposed participants on the legal framework for International human Rights Law and Humanitarian Principles, adding that it would also enhance the capacity of the officers on how to protect the rights of civilians when caught up in armed conflict.
