By Nkem Chidi
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Lucky Irabor, has described the reports by Reuters as strange allusions that exist only in the figment of the writers. To demonstrate the commitment he attached to unraveling the truth or otherwise of the report, he on Friday, offered to grant immunity and amnesty to any soldier that is ready to appear before the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter Insurgency in the North East to testify against the military on allegations contained in the Reuters reports on December 2022 and April 2023.
Reuters had reported that the military had a deliberate policy that led to over 10,000 illegal and forced abortions on women rescued from Boko Haram and others that escaped from the insurgents by the military. While testifying before the seven-man panel headed by the Hon. Justice Abdu Aboki at the Abuja headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Irabor described the report as false, unbelievable and strange allusions.
He challenged Reuters to disclose the identities of the soldiers said to have given such information, adding that he has granted express amnesty to such soldiers as well as immunity from sanctions and prosecution if they can come to the panel and testify who gave them the order.
Irabor who served in the North East as theatre commander and other various positions, expressed shock at the report and said it could only exist in the figment of the imagination of the authors. “The report was a rude shock to me. I was involved in the operation as a theatre commander. I never saw anything like that. That was why I pledged support for the investigation. Internal security operations are against criminals and for protection of civilians.. He insisted that what contained in the Reuters report does not exist and challenges the news agency to mention names of perpetrators as well as those interviewed in the report. On the report of massacre carried on Book Haram children, he also dismissed it saying that the Nigerian military is a professional institution and not a ragtag army. He said there is no such policy or program me. “When I was in the field, I was not privy. No body gave me any directive on such a programme or policy. As the CDS, I’m also not privy. I have not seen any document written or oral.” He warned those who want to demotivate the armed forces to desist from doing so. He averred that the enemies are engaging in a psychological warfare since the military has demonstrated enough resilience and patriotism. He equally dismissed the claim of cleansing stating that the military did not subject rescued chibok girls to cleansing but released them to their parents after all the formalities. He thanked the panel for availing him the opportunity to testify even as he pledged further assistance to ensure the panel succeeds in its investigation. Earlier before his testimony, three other army officers who served in the North East within the time under review also described the reports as false, malicious and intended to demoralize the military. Brigadier General Abubakar Haruna of 21 Armoured Brigade, said he recaptured Bama and described the reports as ridiculous. He said a woman gave birth and named the boy after him. Also, Brig Gen Tuni Isa who served in the theatre of war between 2013 to 2014 described the report as unimaginable. In his testimony, Army Warrant Officer, Baba Abdullahi said as a warrant officer, he is the bridge between officers and men. He said he is close to the men and was in the position to pick information. ‘I don’t know anything about this. Our concern was to recapture, rescue and defense territories,” he submitted.
