A former Commander of the 21 Armoured Brigade in Bama, Borno, retired Maj.-Gen. James Akomolafe has denied reports of misdeeds by the Nigerian Army as published by Reuters in a 2022 report.
Akomolafe while testifying in Abuja before the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in the Implementation of Counter Insurgency Operations in the North East (SIIP-North East) said that, no military personnel under his command could sneak out to have any business with civilians, including rendering any medical services without his knowledge.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) set up the SIIP-North East to probe the allegation of an elaborate secret abortion program operated by the Nigerian military in the northeast.
Akomolafe also dismissed Reuters’ second report of smothering, poisoning, and shooting of children alleged to be fathered by members of the Boko Haram sect to stop the regeneration of the sect members.
“The army can’t be responsible for such atrocious acts as reported by Reuters. Where was Reuters when my troop was ambushed and attacked in the said episode by Boko Haram members around Banki junction in Maiduguri?
”The troop escaped for safety although they suffered some casualties including the killing of an officer even after the insurgents made him put a call across to his other colleagues, bidding them farewell and that was the last they heard from him,” he told the panel.
The incident, according to the witness, did not provoke the troop under his command to act outside their professional rules of engagement.
Akomolafe pointed out that by military training, soldiers are not permitted to shoot carelessly but must have a definite target.
The witness also denied any involvement of soldiers in any sexual and gender-based violence.
”Nigeria has a professional army and will not deviate from the normal practices,” he said
The witness, who was also the Officer commanding VIII Task Force Division in Monguno, Borno told the panel that it would be insensitive on the part of the troop who relate with the civilians in the most cordial manner to suddenly turn around and unleash attacks on them in the name of fighting insurgency.
”We did not attend to any civilians medically. All cases of wounded civilians, arrested or surrendered were taken by ambulances to the Seven Division in Maiduguri.
”Surrendered or captured combatants are usually taken to 7 Division detention center,” he said
Also testifying, the Force Commander UN military mission to South Sudan, Maj,-Gen. Olufemi Sawyer and retired Maj.-Gen. A.A. Nani in separate testimonies denied the involvement of the military in any of the Reuters allegations.
They stressed the professional nature of the Nigerian army, saying that such improper acts as reported by Reuters were unknown to the military.
After the testimonies, the Secretary of the panel, Mr Hilary Ogbonna informed members of a fourth report by Reuters’ still alleging “abortion assaults” against the military.
Members of the panel are retired Justice Abdu Aboki, Supreme Court justice ( Chairman), Ms. Kemi Okonyedo, representing Women’s Rights Organisation, and Mr. Azubuike Nwankenta, representing NBA.
Others are Maj.-Gen. Letam Wiwa (Military Law and Intelligence Expert), Dr. Maisaratu Bakari (Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital Yola).
Others are Dr. Fatima Akilu (Humanitarian Expert, representing Civil Society), and Ms. Halima Nuradeen (Psychologist, representing Youths.
In December 2022, a report by Reuters alleged that the Nigerian military conducted a secret, systematic, and illegal abortion program in the country’snortheastt, ending at least 10,000 pregnancies among victims of insurgency.
Lucky Irabor, the chief of defense staff, had, however, denied the allegations while describing the investigation as “outright nonsense”.
The panel is to receive a memorandum from individuals and organizations with interest in the subject matter of the mandate of the SIIP northeast, especially human rights, security, and humanitarian organizations working in the northeast.
The panel is also to make appropriate determinations as to the culpability of individuals or institutions as may be deemed necessary in each circumstance. (Section 5(j) of the NHRC Act 2010).
The panel is to determine the damages or compensation payable for any violation of human rights where it deems this necessary in the circumstances of the case (sec. 6(e) of the NHRC Act, 2010).
The panel will refer any matter of human rights violations requiring prosecution to the attorney-general of the federation or of a state, as the case may be. (Section 5(p) of the NHRC Act, 2010).
