The Borno Government has assured the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in North East of maximum support and cooperation.
The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, gave the assurance on Friday in Maiduguri while receiving members of panel in his office.
Kadafur said that Gov. Babagana Zulum had already directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to accord full support to the panel to ensure hitch free exercise.
“We have been directed by His Excellency, the Governor, that all MDAs to be visited or invited for information by the panel to make themselves and information available,” Kadafur said.
He lauded the establishment of the panel and urged all stakeholders to accord it the necessary support to succeed.
Earlier, Chief Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), while introducing the Chairman of the Panel, retired Justice Abdu Aboki, and other members, said the panel was established in line with the NHRC Act of 2010.
Ojukwu said that the panel was established following the three-part report of media group, Reuters, in December 2022, alleging series of gross violations of international and national human rights laws by the Nigerian Armed Forces and Boko Haram insurgents.
He said the panel has the mandate of investigating allegations in the report and make recommendations on culpability, accountability and reforms along the lines of the alleged violations and on integrating human rights into counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria.
Ojukwu, who lauded the support so far shown to the panel since its arrival in the state, urged for more support and cooperation of relevant government agencies during the panel’s assignment. (NAN)
