From: Molly Kilete. Abuja
The Special Board of Enquiry set up by the Nigerian Army over allegations of Human Rights abuse by its officers and soldiers, on Werdnesday, submitted its report to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.
Details of the findings by the board headed by former Director of Military Intelligence, Major General AT Jibrin (rtd), was not made known.
The board inaugurated on March, 8 was to, among others, investigate cases of alleged extra judicial execution, arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture and enforced disappearance of suspected Boko haram terrorists leveled against the Nigerian army in the early days of the counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations.
Buratai, had while inaugurating the board said the board has become necessary to establish the true situation of the spurious allegations of human rights violation by Amnesty International, Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB), and other groups and individuals.
He said “Amnesty International (AI), Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), and other groups and individuals have made allegations of human rights violation of arrested Boko-Haram terrorists against some of our senior officers and commanders based on which some of them are already suffering discriminations in some quarters”
Buratai, while listing the allegations to include extra judicial execution, arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture and enforced disappearance of suspected Boko haram terrorists, “said these allegations are not good for civil-military relations and capable of demoralized zing Nigerian Army personnel in the performance of their constitutional roles”
According to him “it is therefore expedient to thoroughly investigate these allegations in order to find out the facts of the matter to enable relevant authorities take appropriate actions”.