CD lauds Army over human rights desk, demands extension to divisions

The Campaign for Democracy, a human rights group, has lauded the leadership of the Nigerian Army for setting up human rights desks to receive and investigate complaints of abuses against its personnel.
The South East Secretary of the CD, Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, made the commendation on Tuesday in Enugu in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Chukwuokolo said the move was an indication that the leadership had resolved to professionalise the army.
NAN recalls that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, recently inaugurated the Army Human Rights Desk.
In his remarks at the occasion, the COAS said the desk would strength civil-military relations in order for the populace to understand and appreciate the army better.
Buratai assured the public, local and international human rights bodies that the Nigerian Army would investigate all cases of human rights complaints brought before it through the desk.
Chukwuokolo noted that the development would help to clarify issues bothering on how officers and men of the army carry out rules of engagement and operations vis-à-vis how these affect civilians.
He said: “Sincerely, I commend the present crop of leadership of the Nigerian Army for this fantastic idea.
“It entails that the civility, which democracy brings, is being entrenched even in the Nigerian Army.
“It will put officers and men of the Army on their toes and make them know that there is no compromise to professionalism in the force.
“It will also improve discipline among officers and men during official engagements or at their personal casual time.”
The secretary appealed to Buratai to extend the desk to the Divisions after test running it within few months at the Army Headquarters.
Chukwuokolo said: “The desk should be closer to the people in order to give them easy access to lay their complaints without spending much or wasting a lot of time to do so.
“It will not be easy for somebody like me to take transport from Enugu to Abuja to submit written complaints as well as days involved in such a journey.”
The desk, which is under the supervision of the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Rogers Nicholas, would receive documents and investigate complaints from individuals and organisations on rights violation involving army personnel.
NAN.