By Akinwale Kasali
The Nigeria Army has vowed to apprehend and punish its Personnels involved in the extra Judicial Killing and unprofessional conduct, following the torture, killing and burying of a suspected Boko Haram member in the North Eastern part of the country, specifically, Maiduguri, Borno State.
The video of the torture, killing and burying of the suspect, in a shallow grave by military personnel, who were speaking in Yoruba and Pidgin English went viral.
The manner the suspect was executed was gory, and has been condemned by Nigerians.
Following this condemnation by Nigerians, the Nigeria Army has issued a press release to that effect, promising to sanction the Personnels Involved.
The Army in the release said that its attention has been drawn to a video reportedly showing some NA personnel engaged in unprofessional torture and, above all, extra judicial killing of a suspected Boko Haram terrorist likely in the North East Theatre of Operation.
The Acting Director, Nigeria Army Public Relation Officer, Col. Musa Sagir, said that the Army wishes to clearly and strongly condemn the action of those involved (whoever they may be) in the misconduct, and that the dastardly act is completely unacceptable, unethical and against the cherished core values of the NA, especially, that of respect for others and their fundamental rights.
“The Nigeria Army training, Rules of Engagement and Standing Operating Procedures guiding the conduct of all her operations are unambiguous about human rights abuses and extra judicial actions including the rights of the arrested/captured terrorists/combatants.
“Troops in the various theaters of operations in Nigeria, have been consistently warned to desist from rights infractions of any form no matter the amount of desperation, anger or provocation.
“NA does not license, encourage or condone indiscipline, unprofessional conduct, especially extra judicial execution of suspects or combatants. Wherever, such is noticed or reported, once it is confirmed, appropriate decisive sanction or punishment is usually immediately meted out to the perpetrators and this case would never be an exception.
“Accordingly, on seeing the gory video, NA has commenced thorough investigation to apprehend the culprits with the aim to deal with them in accordance with the extant military justice system. Members of the public will surely be informed of the results of the actions taken so far.
“The NA, as a responsible and law abiding organization, will remain professional in the discharge of its constitutional roles and will continue to operate within the ambit of the law in line with the local and international best practices”, Sagir concluded.
