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COAS Lt.General Tukur Buratai

No safe haven for human rights violators — COAS

COAS Major General Tukur Buratai
COAS Major General Tukur Buratai

ABDULLAHI ISAH, Maiduguri

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai has said the Nigerian military operates within the constitutional provision on its roles and the rules of engagement for prosecuting war against terror as well as other insurrection, and not by the dictates of individuals.

He however declared “there is no safe haven for human rights violators.”

The army chief disclosed this, Monday, during a workshop on Human Rights in Times of Conflict and Crisis, organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which held at the Maimalari Cantonment of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

He said the army after investigation often sent cases of suspects to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution, adding that many officers and men have been sent for training on human rights both locally and abroad in many international institutes.

He disclosed that the International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC) has unrestricted access to detention facilities of the Nigerian Army.

On his part, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN said the Federal Government will soon convene a stakeholders’ meeting to examine allegations of human rights abuses levelled against the Nigerian military by the Amnesty International and other human right organizations.

He further stressed that the Federal Government was determined to investigate the allegation of human rights abuses from the Amnesty International.

Amnesty International in June accused the military forces in the northeast of human rights violation, an allegation the military severally denied despite insistence by the organization.

“We will soon call a stakeholders’ forum to respond to allegations of human rights violation levelled against our military,” Malami said in his remark.

NBA President, Augustine Alegeh in his remark said the workshop was organized in collaboration with the army to address human rights challenges of troops fighting in the northeast and the civil populace.

He said the event was brought to Maiduguri to engage the military on the way forward to tackle allegation of rights abuses, urging participants to contribute meaningfully in the interest of the nation.

He disclosed that the NBA was not out to investigate or criticize the military but to partner for promotion of human rights not only for the civilians but also troops.

The workshop which attracted ranking lawyers in the nation’s bar was also attended by the Borno State Chief Judge, Hon Kashim Zannah, former presidents of NBA and many Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

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