By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has dismissed the Amnesty International alleged human rights violation, insisting that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), adheres to international humanitarian law and principles governing human rights.
Amnesty International new report alleged that girls and young women who escaped Boko Haram captivity in north-east Nigeria faced further suffering, including sometimes, unlawful military detention.
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The report, which was unveiled on Monday, during a press conference, also said that while protracted military detention has decreased in recent times, many women still suffer severe hardships, neglect, inadequate support and experiences mistreatment.
But in a swift reaction, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in a statement signed by Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, challenged Amnesty International, to approach the military high command to substantiate its allegations.
General Buba said: “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to allegations labelled against the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), by Report of Amnesty International launched during a Press Conference in Abuja on 10 June 2024. Accordingly, the AFN hereby makes it unequivocally clear that, it is a professional military force that operates within the ambit of International law of armed conflict. Furthermore, the AFN elects not to join words with organisations such as Amnesty International, rather would encourage them to approach the military high command to substantiate their allegations”.
General Buba noted that the military has self regulating mechanisms with which it administers the military justice system to address any proven case of misconduct of personnel.
He added that the AFN led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has zero tolerance for indiscipline and any form of improper conduct during operations across the country.
“It is for this reason that, there are standing court martials to treat any form of misbehaviour by erring personnel, especially those that portray the military negatively to the general populace. Lastly, the AFN will remain focussed on its objective. We will be unperturbed by such self serving statements targeted at dampening the moral of troops in operational theatres. Rather, we will engage constructively with Amnesty International, where available. Overall, we will continue on the trajectory of conducting operations assiduously to defeat terrorism in our nation,” General Buba concluded.
The Amnesty International new report captioned “Help us build our lives: Girl Survivors of Boko Haram and Military Abuses in Northeast Nigeria,” showcases ugly experiences of no fewer than 50 victims of Boko Haram and alleged military high-handedness.
Amnesty also disclosed that it has contacted several global partners about its findings, including the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
The International Human Rights Watchdog, also tasked the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, to investigate crimes under international law committed by all parties during the conflict in north-east Nigeria.
The report featured a story of a victim code named, NV, who was 20, when she escaped, after eight years of Boko Haram captivity in 2021.
The report further revealed that she was unlawfully detained by the Nigerian military in Madagali, Adamawa State for about two months.
She said: “When the soldiers brought food… they gave us a portion in our hand and soup in one bowl for all of us to share… As a toilet, they gave us a plastic bag”.
