The Nigerian Army has defended its men who were involved in the recent shootout in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State to recover arms from gun runners and armed bandits.
Speaking at the Nigeria Military Human Rights Dialogue, the Chief of Administration, Nigerian Army, Major General Adamu Abubakar, said the men were on official duty.
Abubakar said the Nigerian Army sent the operatives on a covert operation contrary to reports that the men acted on their own.
He said: “Contrary to statements attributed to some questionable vested interests, the troops were on legitimate official duty aimed to safeguard lives and property in the area.
“While approaching and deploying to carry out lawful duty, the troops came under simultaneous and sporadic shooting in all the three locations; they responded as necessary in line with rules of engagement.”
Abubakar gave the assurance that the Nigerian military was committed to uphold the tenets of human rights in all its operations.
Also, Air Commodore Afam Chukwu, who spoke on behalf of the Nigeria Air Force, urged Nigerians not to be swayed by campaign of calumny, especially from the insurgents.
According to Chukwu, whatever the Air Force is doing, we will ensure the highest standards of professional conduct because we are committed to the protection of lives and property of Nigerians.
Chukwu also said the Air Force had a public complaints desk, which it was planning to relocate to a more accessible location and enjoined Nigerians to make maximum use of it.
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, urged Nigerians to appreciate and show concern for families of military men who lose their lives in the cause of defending the country.
Angwe said complaints in relation to atrocities committed by the military in the discharge of its duties had reduced tremendously.
He attributed this to some successes recorded as a result of the dialogue between the commission and the military.
Presenting a report of the previous dialogue held between both organisations, Olawale Fapohunda, the facilitator of the dialogue, said the Nigerian military was overstretched in its primary function of defending Nigeria.
Fapounda said: “This is more so given the several security challenges Nigeria is facing.
“The military now appears to be the first line of defence in all matters of security.
“In addition to conducting operations against the Boko Haram insurgents and the Niger Delta militants, the military is also leading operations against all types of criminal conduct across the country.”
Fapohunda identified the need for the Armed Forces Act to be amended, saying this would pave the way for more progress to be made in the area of military justice system.
He said: “We have suggested that a fundamental review of the Armed Forces Act is crucial to the whole discussion of military and human rights.
“We have suggested that a starting point for this discussion could be the proposal, which the Nigerian Military itself made to the National Assembly in 2004, which regrettably has made little progress.”
The Nigerian Army had on August 3 carried out an arms recovery operation in three local government areas of Niger State.
The operation reportedly left 10 soldiers and two men of the Nigerian Air Force dead, while eight bandits were also killed and 57 others arrested.
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