The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has called on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate allegations made by an international news agency, Reuters, accusing the Nigerian military and the federal government of running a programme where forceful abortions were carried out on female victims of Boko Haram/Islamic State in West African Province.
The report claimed that the Army carried out the abortions without the persons’ consent and that at least 10,000 pregnancies had been illegally terminated.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the executive-secretary of the NHRC Chief Tony Ojuckwu (SAN) in Abuja on Friday, Irabor said, “We have taken a look and felt that the Commission is the right establishment that should undertake an investigation into the allegations.”
Irabor, who denied the involvement of Nigerian soldiers in such an act, said, “When you look at it, you feel that this certainly is not us and it does not represent the professional standing of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
He said such an act, as reported by Reuters, does not reflect the professional engagement of the Nigerian Army, not just in the North East but, across the length and breadth of the country where the Army has a footprint of operation in line with the dictates of the constitution.
He said, “At first, we felt there are some extra-territorial powers that want to whittle the strength of the Armed Forces being at the war front in a current engagement that seeks to bring peace into our land and so, some action needs to be taken.”
He said the NHRC, as an agency of government that ensures that the fundamental human rights of Nigerians are not violated should investigate the allegations against the Armed Forces of Nigeria by Reuters.
“It is in that light that I have come to formally inform you if perhaps, you are not thinking about it,” he said and assured the commission of the cooperation of the armed forces in the course of the investigation
“I assure you of unfettered access, we will grant you access to all our establishments across the country.
“Our door is open to you as you so desire in the course of any investigation you may want to conduct. Am also assuring you that if you require to invite any of our officers, they will be available for you to also ask them questions that you think will be appropriate in light of the allegations that have been given.
“We are doing this because we remain very transparent in our official engagement and we have nothing to fear,” he said.
The Defence Chief said the Armed Forces of Nigeria has codified its various operational rules and regulations as well as rules of engagement according to international humanitarian law and other relevant laws that were captured.
Ojukwu, in his response, said the request of the Defence Chief was in line with the determination of the commission to investigate the allegations in the Reuters report because of the human rights implications in it.
He told his quest that the investigation process of the commission must meet the international human rights standards required for the kind of investigation being requested by the Defense Chief.
According to the NHRC boss, the commission’s investigation must be public, transparent, accord with the principle of fair hearing, accountability, and non-discrimination, and the panel must accommodate veracity of interest.
He said the commission will soon announce further steps towards the constitution of the panel of investigation into the Reuters report.
