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Reuters Allegation, 84 persons have witnessed so far- NHRC
Reuters Allegation, 84 persons have witnessed so far- NHRC
By: Michael Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has disclosed that 84 witnesses have so far given testimonies to the panel saddled with the duty of investigating the allegation of the international media organisation Reuters against the Nigerian Army of involvement in abortion of 10,000 pregnancies, massive killing of children and deliberate violation of rights of women and girls in its counter-insurgency operation in the North East.
The panel after visits to the North East to take testimonies and conduct on the ground investigations in the troubled region, has resumed its work in Abuja where further testimonies were being collected.
A Senior Human Rights Adviser to Chief Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC), Hillary Ogbonna, who doubles as the Secretary, Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in the counter Insurgency Operations in the North East, (SIIP:NE), said the Reuters Report indicated that 40 soldiers, most of whom were officers, were interviewed in the course of the reports.
He said: “December last year, Reuters published reports alleging abortion of ten thousand pregnancies, infanticide and other forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence against the Nigeria Military but the military has since denied the allegations saying it was a deliberate attempt to rubbish the counter insurgency operation.”
Ogbonna noted that the latest report highlighted how Reuters arrived at their publications and the allegations against the Nigeria Military in their counter insurgency operations in the North East.
According to him, the report which was the follow up to the first reports released by Reuters last year December was released on the 19th of April and was named Abortion Assault II.
Meanwhile, Colonel Yakubu Ibrahim of the Nigerian Defence College who was at a twine in charge of a battalion in the Northeast theatre of operation, said the allegations of Reuters was laughable.
Ibrahim said the story of Reuters is a fiction, adding that when he read the report, he thought the writer was mistaking Nigeria for somewhere else.
Also, the Force Commander, United Nations mission to South-Sudan, Major General Benjamin Sawyer urged the investigative panel to everything within its power to unravel the matter; saying the military has a key goal of combating insurgency and restoring peace in the troubled region. It therefore could not have embarked on secrete acts alleged in the Reuters report.
“What they have written is completely false, misleading and degrading to the image of Nigerians and the Nigerian Army despite what the military has done to restore normalcy in restive regions.”
Also testifying, Retired Major General Jame Komolafe, Former Commander, 21 Brigade, North East, described the Reuters report as deliberate falsehood circulated to rubbish the integrity of the military.
He added that the military was law abiding and no military medical facility will subject itself to such illicit medical practice.
The Panel, chaired by a retired justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Abdul-Aboki, is officially known as Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in the implementation of counter insurgency operations in the North East.
Reuters Allegation, 84 persons have witnessed so far- NHRC
Boko Haram Terrorists Ambush Vigilantes in Borno, One Killed
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have ambushed members of a vigilante group on routine patrol along the Warave–Gwoza Road in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, killing one member.
Sources said the attack occurred at about 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday when the gunmen opened fire on members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local hunters conducting patrol in the area.
A member of the CJTF in Warave, Bello Adamu, 50, sustained fatal injuries during the ambush. He was evacuated to the General Hospital in Gwoza, where he was certified dead on arrival. His remains were later released to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI were deployed to the scene following the incident, while monitoring and patrols have been intensified along the axis to prevent further attacks.
Boko Haram Terrorists Ambush Vigilantes in Borno, One Killed
Troops Neutralise Four Terrorists in Offensive Operation in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1, Operation HADIN KAI in conjunction with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have neutralised Four suspected Boko Haram terrorists during an offensive operation in Shehuri area of Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola that the operation, conducted at about 9:15 a.m. on Feb. 25 under Operation Desert Sanity IV, led to the interception and engagement of the terrorists.
Following the encounter, troops carried out exploitation of the area, during which four insurgents were neutralised.
Items recovered from the scene included AKSM automatic rifle and pump-action rifle with cartridges and magazines.
Sources added that troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high as clearance operations continue across parts of the state.
Troops Neutralise Four Terrorists in Offensive Operation in Borno
Lakurawa Terrorists on revenge Mission Kill Four Worshippers in Kebbi Mosque, Five Injured
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected Lakurawa terrorists on a revenge mission have attacked Dadinkowa village in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing four worshippers and injuring five others after storming a mosque.
Sources said the attackers invaded the community and opened fire on worshippers, leaving four persons dead and five others with varying degrees of injuries. The injured victims were rushed to a medical facility for treatment.
The latest attack is believed to be a reprisal following a failed ambush on the convoy of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Maj.-Gen. Bemgha Koughna, during an operational tour in the state.
On Wednesday, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma reportedly foiled the ambush near Mayama Hill, neutralising five suspected terrorists. Weapons and other items recovered during the operation included one OJC gun, one PKT gun, two AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, a bandolier of PKT ammunition, several rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, a camel bag containing N840,000, two mobile phones and five motorcycles.
Security sources said the terrorists were suspected to have launched the mosque attack in retaliation for the heavy losses recorded during the failed ambush.
Operation FANSAN YANMA have assured that efforts were ongoing to track down those responsible for the latest assault.
Lakurawa Terrorists on revenge Mission Kill Four Worshippers in Kebbi Mosque, Five Injured
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