Commission investigates alleged human rights abuse against security organisations
NAN-DS-2
Investigation
Damaturu, May 24, 2017 (NAN) The National Human Rights Commission has constituted a committee to investigate allegation of human rights abuses made by Amnesty International against security organisations in the country.
Mrs Oti Ovrawah, acting Director General of the commission made this disclosure in Damaturu on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen.
“The commission is investigating every allegation to verify the claims or otherwise for the country to say it has happened or not, this falls within the mandate of the human rights commission.
“We will come up with our position after the investigations and what we have verified would be made public,” she said.
She said the commission embarked on training of security agencies participating in the fight against insurgency in the North-East to ensure that special attention was given to rights of the people.
“Nigeria is a member of human rights organisations and it is important for the security personnel to always have in mind issues bordering on human rights while carrying out their operations.
“We have conducted one of the training series in Yola, we are having one now in Yobe and we will have another one next week in Maiduguri.
“This is a continuous exercise; the commission will keep on reminding them of what they are supposed to do and what they are not supposed to do while executing their responsibilities,” she said.
Reacting, Brig,-Gen. Henry Wisely, Commandant, Logistics Army Headquarters Base 3 Damaturu, commended the Human Rights Commission for the refresher course on human rights.
“The refresher is important for both officers and men operating in the area, we have all passed through similar training at the depot for soldiers and Nigeria Defence Academy for the officers.”
Henry said the army had an internal mechanism to check abuse of human rights in all its operations. (NAN)
MM/MO/AFA
Edited by Morayo Omolade/Felix Ajide