List Of Nigerian Military Officers, Alleged Victims Quizzed Over Forced Aborti0n Claim
List Of Nigerian Military Officers, Alleged Victims Quizzed Over Forced Aborti0n Claim
The investigative panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has so far grilled 50 military officers, hospital officials and rescued women over a report that the military has been involved in forced aborti0ns of girls and women fleeing Boko Haram fighters.
A report by Reuters in December last year had alleged that the military had been involved in about 10,000 of such aborti0ns since 2013.
The NHRC panel which began an independent investigation into the matter last month, was in Yola Friday afternoon for a hearing in which members interviewed two brigade commanders.
Secretary of the NHRC Investigative Panel, Mr Hilary Ogbona who posed questions to the generals, had earlier said in his opening speech that 50 military leaders, other stakeholders and the suggested victims had been interviewed in the investigation which had already taken the panel to Borno and Yobe states.
He disclosed that the investigation continued and that findings of the panel were being collated and would be made public at the end of its sittings.
He said the panel would today visit military and civilian hospitals around Adamawa State as part of its investigative tour of the state.
He posed questions to the generals designed to find substance or otherwise around the forced aborti0n allegations.
In response, one of the generals said the allegation in its entirety was ridiculous as the Nigerian military is too professional and too given to global best practices in regard to human rights to take it upon itself to force aborti0ns on women for any reason.
