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‘10,000 Aborted Babies’: NHRC insists on unraveling truth of Reuters allegation against Nigerian army

Published

7 months ago

October 15, 2023

‘10,000 Aborted Babies’: NHRC insists on unraveling truth of Reuters allegation against Nigerian army

The Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in North East Nigeria (SIIP-North) has resumed sitting in its bid to unravel the truth of the allegation of mass abortion of babies against the Nigerian Army.

In December 2022, Reuters published a report which accused the Nigerian military of various forms of human rights violations, including abortion of babies of suspected terrorists.

THE WHISTLER reports that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) inaugurated the panel to investigate the military’s alleged abortion of about 10,000 babies of Boko Haram victims within the space of nine years since 2003.

Since the panel was inaugurated, several generals in the army have appeared before it to answer questions.

They include the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Maiduguri, Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, and the former Chief of Army Staff, General Y. Yahaya, as well as former Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor.

All the military officers denied the Reuters report in its entirety.

The panel last sat on May 12 in Abuja.

A statement issued by NHRC Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages Department, Agharese Arase, and made available to THE WHISTLER on Saturday, said the panel resumed its 7th sitting in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

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This time, the panel will be embarking on a fact-finding mission to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

“The Chairman of the panel, Justice Abdu Aboki (rtd) said it has become necessary for the panel to visit the medical facility to seek the support needed in conducting further investigations into the alleged human rights violations mentioned in the Reuters report.

“The eminent Jurist said although the medical facility was not categorically mentioned in the Reuters 4- part reports, it became expedient to conduct an investigation in the facility, being a Referral Centre where most of the secondary healthcare cases are brought,” the statement partly reads.

The Secretary of the panel, Mr. Hilary Ogbonna, told the CMD of UMTH, Prof. Ahmed Ahijo, that it was imperative to interact with him to obtain important information that may be needed to ascertain the truth in the Reuter’s report.

The statement reads, “Against this backdrop, Mr. Ogbonna said the panel will be fielding questions to the CMD, HOD obstetrics and gynaecology, HOD Pharmacy, HOD Nursing Services, and HOD Histopathology in other to be in sync with what the panel did at the Secondary medical facilities in the State, which are Borno State Specialist Hospital and Umaru Shehu Ultra-Modern Hospital, all in Maiduguri, Borno State.

“On his part the CMD of UMTH Prof. Ahmed Ahijo expressed the readiness of himself and his team to cooperate with the Panel as it conducts its investigations.”

THE WHISTLER

Related Topics:Aborted Babies Featured NHRC nigerian army

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Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

Published

51 mins ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Goodboy Sokari

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

A new speaker has emerged in Rivers State Wednesday May 8, 2024, to signal the much-awaited showdown in state’s deteriorating political crisis which seems to be here.

Already, hidden cards or fists are appearing every hour to show that both the Nyesom Wike camp and the Governor Siminalayi Fubara camp have been preparing for it.

The Wike camp through the Rivers State caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Tony Okocha yesterday gave go-ahead for impeachment action against the governor. The one they one the 27 defected lawmakers loyal to Wike initiated on October 30, 2023, failed when Gov Fubara fought back until a temporary ceasefire was achieved in Aso Rock with an 8-point agreement signed by both parties but largely observed in breach.

Now, it seems both camps have rearmed and may be ready for the final showdown that may make Rivers State tense in the coming days, to say the least.

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The APC has directed that impeachment begin immediately; the next day, the Fubara camp announced their own Speaker, Victor Oko Jumbo from Bonny; same day, hints emerge that screening of LGA caretaker committee members may be going on.

On the other hand, the local councils have staged protests saying their monthly allocations have been withheld. Pressure is thus mounting from that angle covering the 23 local council areas.

The purported screening may lead to appointment of caretaker committees of the 23 LGAs in the state who would get the monthly allocations and hit the ground running.

This action would provoke what the Wike-backed APC group said they would resist. They may begin their own action in the form of impeachment proceedings which the Fubara camp (Rivers State government) said they would resist.

These acts of resistance may plunge the state into violence and make it ungovernable. At that point, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has remained silent since the peace agreement, may unveil the sanctions he had threatened would descend on any person who breached the agreement. Each camp points to the other as the one breaching the agreements. Each clings to Tinubu as the favourite.

The battle seems timed to ensure that the one year anniversary is hindered.

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

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Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

Published

52 mins ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen

Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, intervened on Wednesday to halt a motion calling for the suspension of the controversial cybersecurity levy, which has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians.

Since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mandated all banks to deduct 0.5% of the value of electronic transactions from customers, Nigerians from various sectors have vehemently opposed the levy, labelling it an additional financial burden.

During Wednesday’s plenary session, Manu Soro, a lawmaker from Bauchi State, presented the motion, citing concerns about the timing of the levy’s introduction amidst Nigeria’s prevailing economic challenges.

Soro argued that imposing new taxes or increasing existing ones amid the current economic difficulties exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies and currency depreciation would only add to citizens’ financial woes.

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He called on the House to urge the CBN to retract the circular on the cybersecurity levy and halt its implementation immediately. Additionally, he urged the Minister of Finance to refrain from introducing new taxes or raising existing rates until the economic situation improves significantly.

However, Speaker Abbas advised Soro to temporarily withdraw the motion to allow the House leadership to deliberate on the best course of action to address the issue.

In a related development, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) threatened to shut down the economy over the plan to implement the cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions. TUC’s president, Mr. Festus Osifo, criticized the levy as illogical, particularly given the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians. He warned that its implementation could worsen poverty and deepen the economic crisis in the country.

Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

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EFCC to arraign Sirika, daughter over fresh N2.7 billion contract scam

Published

14 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Hadi Sirika

EFCC to arraign Sirika, daughter over fresh N2.7 billion contract scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign a former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Maitama on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Sirika, who served under former president Muhammadu Buhari, would be arraigned on six amended charges.

The former minister will be arraigned alongside three others, including his daughter, Fatima; Jalal Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, for abuse of office to the tune of N2.7 billion.

As part of EFCC investigations into the financial malfeasance allegedly committed by the former minister, “including fraudulent contracts awarded by the ministry under his watch, had on April 23 detained him in Abuja’’.

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Sirika was invited by the Abuja Zonal Command of the commission on the alleged contract malfeasance and was promptly interrogated and detained at the Formella Street, Wuse 2 Zonal office of the Commission.

“The former minister (Sirika) was invited for questioning by investigators handling the alleged contract frauds under his watch in the ministry.

“He honoured the invitation and has been detained as I am talking with you,” an EFCC source said on the condition of anonymity.

The source also said that EFCC had been investigating the alleged contract frauds while the minister was in office, and he had even met with investigators before he was detained.

The arraignment was earlier slated to hold on Tuesday but due to EFCC prayer to amend the charge, a new date was given.