I feel pained to hear about Reuters accusations – witness tells panel

A former theatre commander of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Maj-Gen. Hassan Umar, on Wednesday said he was pained by Reuters’ allegations on human rights violation in army’s operation.

Umar said this while testifying before the Independent Investigative Panel investigating Human Rights violations in counter Insurgency Operation in the Northast sitting in Abuja.

Supreme reports that the commission inaugurated the panel on Feb. 8, 2023.

Following the allegations of gross human rights violations contained in the three-part report published in December 2022 on military operations in the north east by media group Reuters, hence the panel.

The international media organisation had alleged that the Military was involved in massacre of children as well as other Sexual and Gender Based Violence(SGBV) in the North East.

Supreme also reports that the panel has since started its investigation in Maiduguri and now sitting in Abuja.

The army witness, Umar, told the panel that he heard about the Reuters report and said that could not be true of the Nigerian Army.

” The situation then was very tense and it was not easy to move from one place to the other without knowing what was happening at the other side.

” My period there was short and there was never a time we have dealings with the civilians.

” When we are in need of medical attention, the sector commander gives instructions to the 7 Div. Medical Team to handle it.

“The analysis given from the Reuters’ report is painful, I feel pained,” he said.

According to Umar, there was never a time they experienced what the report claimed, adding the Nigerian Army is trained to help.

He said he was not aware of the report because during his time such did not happen.

” When we are together we deliberate on issues and there was never a time such issues came up.

” I am surprised to hear all these, but I want to tell you these did not happen in Nigerian Army.

” In theatre operations, nothing is done in isolation; information is very important and army, you take order from your immediate commander,” he said.

He, therefore, urged the panel to get more information that would lead to the officers who might be involved in the claims by Reuters.

” We have work diary, where every activity is recorded; the panel should go for it, because whatever we do is not hidden, nothing is kept secret.

” It is good if such matters should be reported to the headquarters in Abuja, so that if an officer is found wanting, he should be dealt with,” he said.

Supreme reports that retired Justice Abdu Aboki, Supreme Court Justice, leads the panel with members as Ms Kemi Okonyedo, Mr Azubuike Nwankenta, Maj.-Gen. Letam Wiwa, Dr. Maisaratu Bakari, Dr Fatima Akilu and Ms. Halima Nuradeen and Mr Hilary Ogbonna are all serving in the panel.

Supreme also reports that the panel is to determine the damages or compensation payable in relation to any violation of human rights where it deems this necessary in the circumstances of the case.

The panel will refer any matter of human rights violations requiring prosecution to the attorney-general of the federation or of a state, as the case may be.