LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) through a set independent investigation panel, has exonerated the military of allegations of forced abortions on women impregnated by the Boko Haram terrorists.
The panel set up in February 8, 2023, was led by Abdu Aboki, a former Supreme Court Judge, who cleared the military of any wrongdoing and innocence of the allegations.
The Reuters’ report published last year had alleged that the military operated a secret, illegal abortion programme targeting women impregnated by the terrorists and committed atrocities against children in the northeast as part of its counter-insurgency campaign operations.
In a report by SaharaReporters earlier today, it reported that the panel was set to present its much-anticipated findings today, Friday.
The commission’s probe included extensive hearings held in both Abuja, Yobe, Adamawa and Borno State, a region heavily affected by Islamist insurgency and military operations.
However, the Nigerian military had firmly denied the allegations, describing it as ‘unfounded and malicious’.
The military accused the news agency of attempting to tarnish its reputation, they also questioned the credibility of the Reuters report while highlighting its extensive peacekeeping history, including in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where similar allegations were not made.
During his testimony, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, dismissed the claims as “shocking and spurious.” He challenged Reuters to provide any of the military officers who had allegedly testified for the report and offered them immunity if they came forward.
Irabor, expressed firmly that the military adhered to strict protocols in its operations, stating that there was no program targeting children of Boko Haram insurgents or their mothers.
He also confirmed that there were no issues orders, written or verbal, within the military hierarchy to support such actions, affirming that the military operated with professionalism and discipline.
The panel thanked General Irabor for his cooperation and praised the military’s transparency during the investigation.
SaharaReporters
