The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor on Friday asked the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate the allegations that the Nigerian Army runs a secret, systematic and illegal abortion programme in the country’s North- East Zone , since 2013, terminating at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls.
General Irabor made the request,just as Reuters makes attempts to justify it’s earlier report with dozens of witnesses accounts, documentation and video clips, that it claimed are victims and women whom had been kidnapped and raped by Islamist militants.
The CDS who made the call when he paid a courtesy visit on the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN) in Abuja empathically denied the Reuters report .He said, “we have taken a look and felt that the Commission is the right establishment that should undertake investigation into it, is the NHRC”.
Gen. Irabor, denied the involvement of Nigeria soldiers in such act, said, “When you look at it, you felt that this certainly not us and it does not represent the professional standing of the Armed Forces of Nigeria”.
He said such 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 breath of the country where the Army has footprint of operation in line with the dictate of the constitution.
In his words, “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 the 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 relavant laws that were captured.
The CDS, who said, it was the first time he visited the NHRC, thanked the Executive Secretary of the Commission for the opportunity .
He added that, “there comes a time in the course of carrying out your responsibilities, you need to reach out to those who has one input or the other to make to advance the course of the responsibilities entrusted into the establishment that you lead by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
He said the Armed Forces, over the years have observed the very crusial roles that the Commission plays and the contributions that it is making towards ensuring that the military live within the bounds of the laws of the land.
Ojukwu, in his response said the request of the Defence Chief was 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 principle of fair hearing, accountability, non-discrimination and that 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