Maiduguri – The Presidential Panel of
Investigation on Armed Forces Compliance with Human Obligations and
Rules of Engagement says it will be objective in all issues brought before it.
The Panel’s Chairman, Justice Biobele George-Will, made the pledge at the closing of the Northeast public hearing on Thursday in Maiduguri.
George-Will gave the assurance that genuine grievances would be addressed and justice served accordingly.
“We came here so that we can hear from you and we have heard from you.
“We assure you that everything you have told us, we have heard and
we will consider it and the position of the Army.
“This is a form of truce and reconciliation business, it is not about condemning one another.
‘’We assure you that wherever there are genuine grievances and if we see that they were made out, they should be addressed.’’
George-Will expressed satisfaction with contributions of the military, legal practitioners and Borno State Government, adding that it facilitated smooth conduct of the exercise.
He called for the recognition of the sacrifices made by the Nigerian military in order to encourage them to do more for the Nation.
“And wherever we see that the military has sacrificed much more than
the Nigerian people know, we should commend them.
“Only then can we achieve peace in the Northeast and by extension the country.’’
Also speaking, the Borno State Attorney General, Alhaji Kaka Shehu, said that the state has a Department of Citizens’ Rights to address all issues arising from the insurgency.
Shehu said that the department was saddled with the responsibility of compiling complaints on human rights violations.
He noted that the high turnout by people was because of the confidence and high expectations they had in the panel. (NAN)
