Military to check violation of human rights by officials

President of the Nigerian Army Special Board of Enquiry, Major-General Ahmed Jubrin (Rtd), has disclosed that efforts are being made to stem the tide of human rights abuse by military personnels thereby restoring the confidence of the public in the institution.

Jubrin who said this while addressing journalists at Lagos House, Alausa, after a meeting with Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, noted that the Army was determined to address the issue of dehumanizing treatment.

He disclosed that the meeting with the governor was part of the strategic engagement of the board to carry along critical stakeholders on efforts being made by the Army to stem the tide.

He said: “This Board of Enquiry was set up by the Chief of Army Staff to investigate all cases of human rights violation levelled against personnel of Nigerian Army in their war against insurgents in the North East and in their internal security operation in the South East.

“We are here to brief Governor Ambode on what effort the Army headquarters is making on the allegation making rounds in the media that the Army, in their operations, have committed gross violation of human rights and arising from that, the COAS set up this Board and the committee is made up of retired officers, activists from the legal sector and human rights groups, as well as some serving personnel.

“Our mission here is to brief the people and government of Lagos State on what the COAS is doing in his response to this allegation. I think from the composition of the Special Board of Enquiry, people can see that this time the Army headquarters is determined to get it right by getting a broader representation so that whatever the result of the enquiry is, will be known to the public.”

He added that the findings of the board would be made public at the end of interaction with all the necessary stakeholders and concerned actors.