The acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of Nigerian Army, Brig Gen Victor Ezugwu has pledged to cooperate with the Special Board of Inquiry on Human Rights Abuses led by the Chairman, Maj Gen A.T Jibrin (Rtd) in accomplishing their mission in North East.
The GOC made the pledge when members of the Special Board of Inquiry visited Headquarters, 7 Division Nigerian Army Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
Brig Gen Ezugwu said the Division respects the rights of detainees in custody of Operation Lafiya Dole in line with the provision of various Charters and Protocols of the United Nations.
“Detainees mostly made up of Boko Haram suspects are well taken care of in line with the international best practice.
“My priority is to improve on facilities available to detainees such as good medical facilities and maintenance of healthy environment.
“Personnel handling detainees are always admonished to be humane while dealing with suspects and detainees irrespective of the fact that they are under custody.
“We adhere strictly to all protocols and conventions relating to rights of detainees,’’ Brig Gen Ezugwu said.
In another development, the Nigerian Army has dismissed reports of molestation of women by its officers deployed in Ogoniland.
The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army was reacting to reports that its officers who were recently deployed in the affected areas are in the habit of molesting women.
In a statement issued by the Spokesman of the 6 division, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, the Army described the publication as false and alleged that it was the handiwork of cultists who desperately want troops removed from the area.
The army said the cultists only want to trigger a call for the withdrawal of the soldiers whose deployment and operational duties such as patrols and other activities have effectively checkmated and denied such criminals freedom to act.
He said the current restriction of movement in Ogoniland between 7pm and 6am daily is not going down well with those it described as enemies of Ogoniland whom he said had resorted to blackmail.
The Nigerian Army assured the people of Ogoni of adequate protection, urging them to disregard the reports and go about their normal businesses without fear.
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