Global Amnesty Watch Exonerates Nigerian Troops of Complicity in Abuse of IDPs in North-east
Adedayo Akinwale
The Global Amnesty Watch (GAW) has exonerated Nigerian troops fighting Boko Haram in the North-east from various allegations of complicity in the abuse of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
It said the ugly incidents came to light in the form of rumours and idle talks, which prompted GAW to initiate further scrutiny of the claims being made.
The Country Representative, Africa Affairs of the GAW, Ms. Helen Adesola, disclosed this at the public presentation of its report on sexual harassment and exploitations being carried out in various IDPs camp across the country.
She noted that the rights group would provide legal services to IDPs and families who were molested by any individual either in the military or amongst the civil population.
Adesdola stated: “The allegations however found their way into the media before GAW could conclude its investigation.
“Even after losing the cover of unanimity under which it had wanted to conclude the review of the various incidents in the IDPs camps, GAW went ahead with the exercise.
“It must however be admitted that it became an uphill task given the resulting sensationalism in the mainstream and social media, which muddled the facts with a handful of fictitious accounts,” Adesola noted.
She however stressed that such cautionary step was necessary to ensure that traumatised victims do not wrongly accuse anyone and to ensure that perpetrators do not get alerted and have enough time to intimidate witnesses or victims.
GAW therefore proposed that necessary changes should be made in the running of the camps in addition to improving on the security at the various locations.
According to her, “the patriotic actors in the fight against terror and the troops have been most embarrassed by the allegations that they were engaged in raping the Nigerians they are meant to be protecting especially with the kind of damaging piece by New York Times.
“This notwithstanding, authorities need to order a fresh investigation that will do away with the bias that had been created by the way the allegations of rape were published with certain groups unilaterally indicting soldiers even before a proper probe has taken place,” she said
Adesdola added that the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of the survivors and indeed all IDPs in camps must be given higher priority to ensure that there is no repeat of what has been reported.
The international organisation said that non-state actors should be advised to desist from making bogus claims that are capable of eroding the gains made by the Nigerian military,” she concluded.
Adesola also proposed the Identification, apprehension and punishment of the real culprits as a first step towards realising this since our research has cleared the military and its personnel.