ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Nigerian Army has disagreed with Amnesty International (AI) over the extent and desirability of investigation into the human rights allegations levelled against the military last year during the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations against the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.
This came to the fore on Thursday when the human rights watchdog visited the Army Headquarters (AHQ), Abuja where it met the top Army hierarchy led by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to discuss the issue of the gross human rights violations.
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Buratai, speaking after more than one hour closed-door meeting with the AI team, insisted that the Nigerian Army has carried out their own investigation with those found culpable in the various human rights abuses punished.
He disagreed with the human rights body that their inquiry was not thorough, saying that the Army is an institution with its own internal mechanism of investigation, which they carried out to its logical conclusion.
According to the COAS, the call for independent inquiry is beyond the Army’s jurisdiction as they have used all the necessary means and procedure to conclude their investigation, adding that those officers and soldiers found culpable have been either imprisoned or dismissed.
“We have formally met and let our position be known on those areas they cited, and those found culpable have appropriately been sanctioned and many of them are facing prison sentences. Right mechanism were being put in place to ensure that right procedures were followed. We are doing everything to ensure that the Nigerian Army are absolved of these issues,” he said.
Prior to the closed-door meeting, the Army Chief noted that “the issue of human rights has been in the front burner of the Nigeria Army since the allegations and counter-allegations with regards to its operations in the North East”.
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Buratai stated that the Nigerian Army is known for its discipline and professionalism during its various peacekeeping operations, and will therefore, not violate the rights its own citizens.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari has already directed for strict adherence to the Rules of Engagement (RoE) and respect for fundamental human rights while the military carry out its operations in
To this end, Buratai said that the Army has established Human Rights Desk office to ensure that it keeps the channel of communication open to address allegations of rights violations.
He said: “The role of the Nigerian Army is to safeguard human lives. We are not only subjected to both military and civil laws but we are bound by the conducts as the military and Army officers. Since the emergence of President Muhammad Buhari, we have been tasked on the issue of respecting the fundamental human rights of every Nigerian. We want to make sure that we guarantee the fundamental human rights of Nigerians wherever we operate.
“We have already established the human rights desk and all issues of human rights before the Nigerian Army have been investigated them and brought to logical conclusion. As a professional Army, we have our mechanism through which we have investigated them. Therefore, if we can conduct ourselves professionally all over the world, why should we do otherwise here. We have our Rules of Engagement as we have to protect the lives of Nigerians wherever they are.”
Buratai also clarified that most cases of gross human rights violations attributed to the Nigerian Army were being carried out by Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements, while disguised as officers and soldiers.
He urged the human rights body and concerned Nigerians not to be swayed by the antics of the terrorists whose major aim is to discredit the Army, government and the state.
“Most times, these cases of human rights violations are not carried out by the Nigerian Army and when you do diligent investigation, you will find out that the original view is distorted. The terrorists aim to distort balance between reason and sentiment. We must be careful, and analyse properly before we arrive at any conclusion.
“We must know that the military as an institution is not a personalised agency. So we should know that the terrorist is using every means to tarnish the image of a legitimate institution. You can see that the aim of the terrorists and in this case, Boko Haram is to discredit the state. These are people who also use military uniform to perpetrate some of these evil. We want the AI to investigate and be frank with their investigation. We will also be frank with our own position even those cases you have raised over the years and the actions we have taken,” he said.
However, the Head of AI delegation and Director Research/Advocacy, Mr. Netsanet Belay, noted that the human rights watchdog was not out to smear operations of the Nigerian military in its fight against insurgency in the north east part of the country, but is calling for a through investigation in all the allegations of human rights violations leveled against some of its personnel.
Belay said that AI would not accept any other investigative outcome except it is being backed by the one carried out by an independent body.
He said that even though the army claimed to have investigated most of the allegations leveled against it and even gone ahead to prosecute the perpetrators, it was not convinced especially when such investigations were done in secrecy.
He, however, commended the Army authorities for adopting open door policy, describing their meeting as very fruitful and a first step taken to address the issues raised by the body.
Belay debunked the accusations that they were being bias against the Nigerian military, saying; “our investigations are clear. Amnesty is in the business of investigating human rights violations or abuses committed by state actors and non-state actors”.
He continued: “In this case we linked the violation committed by Boko haram members which we published in June but at the same time, we believe and it is in our opinion and strong evidence that members of the military have also committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. And that report which we published in June, including the individuals who we believe are responsible and we are saying that we should be part of that investigation.
“We made it clear to the COAS, that while the internal military inquiry is the first step, it is not sufficient enough to amount to an independent and partial investigation. Nigeria has not made its obligation to carry out an independent and partial investigation into these serious crimes.
“The military’s own internal inquiry cannot amount to such an investigation and we still calling on the government, we have held a meeting with the attorney general, minister of interior, we have communicated with the president several times that there need to be through and partial investigation by Nigeria. It has the capacity, it seems to have the political will but we are yet to see that investigation,” he added.
