The Nigerian military has denied reported sexual violations and inhumane treatment of survivors of Boko Haram terrorism in the North East by Amnesty International (AI).
The director of Defence Media Organisation Major General Edward Buba, who reacted to the Amnesty International report, entitled “Help Us Build Our Lives: Girl Survivors of Boko Haram and Military Abuses in North-East Nigeria”, said the Armed Forces is a professional force that operates within the ambit international law of armed conflict as well as adheres to the humanitarian law and principles governing human rights.
The report accused the military of abusing survivors in detention facilities thereby violating International laws of armed conflict, which Nigeria is a treaty to.
According to an Amnesty International report, “Boko Haram survivors said they were insulted and beaten, and witnessed the beatings of others, by soldiers during their detention. The Nigerian military ran all the detention facilities where the interviewees were held In some facilities, CJTF members played supporting roles”.
General Buba said the military has self-regulating mechanisms within its justice system to address any proven case of misconduct by soldiers.
He, therefore, called on the rights organisation to approach the military high command with their claims.
“Accordingly, the AFN is hereby making it unequivocally clear that it is a professional force that operates within the ambit of international law of armed conflict and adheres to humanitarian law and principles governing human rights.
“The AFN elects not to join words with such organisations, rather would encourage them to approach the military high command to substantiate their allegations.
The military has self-regulating mechanisms within the military justice system to address any proven case.
“It is worth noting that the AFN led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa OFR, has zero tolerance for indiscipline and 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.
“Overall, the military will remain focused on its objective and unperturbed by such self-servicing statements targeted at dampening the morale of our troops in operational theatres. Rather, we will engage constructively with Amnesty International where available, as well as continue on the trajectory of conducting operations assiduously to defeat terrorism in our nation,” he said.