Alleged rights abuse: The need for Military,AI synergy
Since 2009, when the Boko Haram insurgency reared its ugly head in the North East, the Nigerian Military has continued to deploy men and equipment, to eliminate the monster.
Just last month, the Army announced the commencement of an exercise it tagged, "Operation Last Hold", which is expected to run side-by-side with the ongoing Operation Lafiya Dole, with a Theatre Command in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
According to reports, over fifteen thousand people had been killed by the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT), since the beginning of their blodletting campaign, while about two million others, had been displaced from their homes.
Indeed, the situation has foisted a near humanitarian crisis on the country, as evident in the number of Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs) across the North East in particular, and the country in general.
In the face of these, however, allegations of human rights abuses, including torture and rape, have been made against soldiers.
One of the organisations that has been unrelenting in accusing the military of rights' violation, is the Amnesty International (AI), whose latest report chronicled cases of alleged rape of female IDPs in camps, in the North East.
In the 89-page report released a few weeks ago, AI female IDPs were being forced to exchange sex for food, adding that many had died due to starvation.
It further accused the military of killing hundreds of people, who failed to leave their rural communities to satellite.
"Instead of receiving protection from the authorities, women and girls have been forced to succumb to rape in order to avoid starvation or hunger", Osai Ojigho, AI's Director in Nigeria said.
The report claimed that evidence collected from the field, indicated that thousands had died from starvation.
" It is absolutely shocking that people who had already suffered so much under Boko Haram have been condemned to further horrendous abuse by the Nigerian military.
" As Nigeria’s military recovered territory from the armed group in 2015, it ordered people living in rural villages to the satellite camps, in some cases indiscriminately killing those who remained in their homes. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled or were forced from these areas.
“The military screened everyone arriving to the satellite camps, and in some locations detained most men and boys aged between 14 and 40 as well as women who travelled unaccompanied by their husbands. The detention of so many men has left women to care for their families alone.
Rape of starving women and sexual exploitation
“Scores of women described how soldiers and Civilian JTF members have used force and threats to rape women in satellite camps, by taking advantage of hunger to coerce women to become their “girlfriends”, which involved being available for sex on an ongoing basis.
" Five women told Amnesty International that they were raped in late 2015 and early 2016 in Bama Hospital camp as famine-like conditions prevailed."
But, the military swiftly debunked AI's claim, as it accused the global human rights watchdog of mischief.
Acting Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. John Agim, in a statement on the allegations, had accused AI of attempts to undermine the military's counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts.
"This malicious trend by AI is becoming a frequent ritual and it is rather unfortunate. In times like this, Amnesty International is expected to apply the natural law of liaison by working with security agencies as partners.
"This would have been the best way to ensure that insurgency and crisis is completely wiped off rather than engaging in falsehood, maligning the military and painting her in bad light at any slight opportunity.
"The Nigerian Military wishes to use this medium to reiterate her commitment to the citizens of our dear nation, that it will abide by all Human Rights Regulations as entered into by Nigeria and also go the extra mile in ensuring that the territorial integrity of our nation is well protected.
"However, the Nigerian Military admonishes AI to desist from cooking reports from time to time to demoralize the entire military system and the nation as a whole whose troops are sacrificing their lives in the fight against Boko Haram and other enemies of the country. These false reports which are capable of derailing the good work being done by our patriotic and selfless soldiers must stop", the military said.
It added that: "Kindly note that we are not in any way implying that AI should not do their job, but such must be done with a level of integrity and credibility by seeking clarification when the need arises. This way a lot will be achieved as both will form partners in the fight against extremism and other vices.
"The Defence Headquarters therefore, urge all law abiding citizens to continue to trust and support the military in the ongoing war against Boko Haram and go about their normal lawful business."
In the face of the allegations and counter-allegations, there is the urgent need for the military and AI, to show restraint and circumspection, considering the fragile situation in the North.
Amnesty International must balance its quest for global best practices in crisis situation, with the peculiarity that defines the insurgency in the North East.
Again, the global body must endeavour, at all times, to discharge one of the time-honoured principle of natural justice: "hear the other party".
On its part, the Nigerian Military must develop a new culture of "looking at the message;not the messenger".
It must desist from "rush mentality", while ensuring that allegations against its officers and soldiers, are subjected to very thorough investigations, with a view to meting out sanctions, to serve as deterrence.
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