By Victor Akaa, Abuja
The attention of Nigerian Army (NA) 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.
A statement made available to Enugu Reporters by the Acting Director Public Relations, Nigerian Army, Col. Sagir Musa states the position of the NA to have clearly and strongly condemned the action of those involved (whoever they may be) .
The statement also said such unwholesome behavior, unprofessional and the dastardly act is completely unacceptable, unethical and is against the cherished core values of the NA especially that of respect for others and their fundamental rights.
The statement further states that NA training, Rules of Engagement and Standing Operating Procedures guiding the conduct of all her operations are not ambiguous and are very clear about human rights abuses and extra judicial actions including the rights of the arrested or captured terrorists or combatants.
The statement therefore warned all the troops in the various theaters of operations in Nigeria, to desist from rights infractions of any form no matter the amount of desperation, anger or provocation.
It adds that the NA does not license, encourage or condone indiscipline, unprofessional conduct especially extra judicial execution of suspects or combatants. Where ever, such is noticed or reported, once it is comfirmed, 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.
The statement further assures members of the public that it will be duly 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.
