The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) Tuesday described the decision to pick a female military officer to speak for the largest Army in Africa as unprecedented.
It however noted the intentional feminisation of the image making mechanism of the Nigeria Army.
HURIWA was reacting to a report on April 17, 2025 that the Nigerian Army has appointed Lt Col Onyinyechi Anele as the acting director of Army Public Relations.
She is the first woman to occupy the position.
The national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a press statement issued Tuesday said it would amount to hypocrisy unless and until the Army authority takes concrete, verifiable, transparent and accountable measures to promote and protect the human rights of civilians, most especially during internal security operations.
Anele, a member of Direct Regular Course 15 and a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, takes over from Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre. Her appointment takes effect from April 22, 2025.
HURIWA recalled that prior to her new role, Anele completed a six-month strategic course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and was posted to the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
She also previously served as Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff. Until her elevation, she was attached to the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
Whilst congratulating the Nigeria Army for appointing a female spokesperson, HURIWA decried the spectacular neglect or downgrading of the mechanisms within the Nigeria Army for resolving human rights related violations committed against civilians by the army.
HURIWA condemns what it calls “these outrageous violations of the human rights of citizens by the Nigerian military”, which legally should embody the highest level of discipline, but has continued to harbour some personnel who behave like common thugs.