The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has praised the findings of an investigation into the Nigerian military, which cleared the forces of allegations made by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Reuters.
In a statement released on Saturday by Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, Gen. Musa welcomed the outcome of the investigation, which found that the military was not involved in forced abortions or other human rights violations. The investigation was conducted by a special independent panel established to examine human rights violations in the North-East region of Nigeria.
The panel, led by retired Justice Abdu Aboki, was tasked with reviewing allegations of systematic abortions, torture, rape, and extrajudicial killings that had been leveled against the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). After a thorough examination, the panel concluded that these accusations were unsubstantiated and false.
Gen. Musa commended the seven-member panel for its diligent work in conducting the investigation since its inception in March 2023, under the Nigerian Human Rights Commission. He expressed appreciation for the panel's commitment to ensuring justice and transparency.
Reaffirming the military’s dedication to upholding human rights, Gen. Musa emphasized that the armed forces would remain focused on its constitutional duty to protect the nation’s territorial integrity. He also stated that no amount of false allegations would divert the military from its mission to ensure peace and security within the country.
The Defence Chief’s statement serves to reinforce the military’s stance against accusations of misconduct, highlighting its continued resolve to fulfill its national duties without distraction.