As the hearing continues by the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights abuses alleged to have been committed by the Nigerian Army during the counter-insurgency operations in North East, a witness of the Nigerian Army, Major General Victor Ezeugwu expressed surprise about Reuters’ allegations of massive abortion of pregnancies, and the massacre of children, and other forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
The Army General said that such claims have no place in professional and modern Army operations.
General Ezeugwu who appeared before the panel in Abuja, expressed dismay at the allegations adding that the said allegations are unfounded.
He told the panel that as a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) in the trouble zone area, they ensure proper care of women and children rescued from the hands of the insurgents before handing them over to those in charge of the Internally Displaced Persons.
Major General Ezugwu emphasized that the Nigerian Army only do a thorough screening of the rescued victims to avoid infiltration of Boko Haram into the camps.
The Army officer noted that “Assuming such violations took place, it would have been taken up by the hierarchy of the military because apart from Army channels, there are other means of checking any possible abuse or infractions on the part of the soldiers.
“Describing the abortions as secret and systematic is trying to justify that 10,000 abortions were done by the Army despite the fact that every Army commander has a way of making sure they check the activities of soldiers”. He added.
The former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, believes that the allegation is not based on facts, saying it is not a true testimony of what Nigerian soldiers are doing in the North East and they cannot be substantiated.
Major-General Ezugwu also presented pictorial documents of the activities of the Nigerian Army under his watch as the GOC of the 7 Division.
PIAK
