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Breaking: Panel exonerates Nigerian military, indicts MSF for illegal abortions in North East, says ICRC, Reuters refused to appear for questioning
The the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency in the North East, on Friday, submitted its final report to the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC.
The panel was inaugurated in February 2023 by the NHRC following report by Reuters reports which named several incidences of abuses on citizens allegedly committed by officers and men of the Nigerian military.
Reuters had alleged that the military committed abuses like forced abortions on women, saying victims were as many as 10,000. Other abuses include torture, rape, extra-judicial killings, abductions and illegal detention, among others.
In the report, the panel said most of the allegations allegations levelled against the military were false, including forced systemic abortions administered on women in the affected areas.
It indicted Medecins Sans Frontieres, MSF of conducting illegal abortions on women in the North East, adding that Reuters ignored such infractions by MSF and some other non-governmental organisations.
The panel said it was unbelievable that the International Committee of the Red Cross, an organisation that oversees issues of human rights could refuse to appear to testify and provide relevant information to unravel the truth on such grave allegations.
It however that the military committed infanticide, the killing of infants in Barte community of Borno State.
The panel said some non-governmental organisations committed a lot of infractions in the North East whole disguising as community based organisations and pointed directly Doctors Without Borders, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres, MSF for operating clinics where illegal abortions were administered on women.
In his opening remark, the chairman of the 7-man panel, Justice Abdu Aboki (rtd) thanked the Commission for setting up the panel aimed at getting the truth or otherwise of the allegations contained in the Reuters report.
He noted that the panel worked without any form of interference from the NHRC or any other government agency in the country
Giving details, Hillary Ogbonna, Secretary of the panel, said the report is in three volumes made up of main reports, summary of report and graphics.
He said the panel sat for 12 weeks spread across 12 months, with 199 witnesses making appearance before the panel, made up of military generals, officers and men of the military, medical personnel, local government and state officials and members of the public.
According to him, the panel sat in four different locations which are Maiduguri in Borno State, Damaturu, Adamawa and Abuja.
Speaking after receiving the report, the Executive Secretary of the Nation’s Human Rights Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, thanked the panel for the efforts put in the investigation which he said started in 2023.
He said the panel was set up in accordance with Sec. 5 and 6 of the NHRC Act 2010, as amended, as a response to the grave allegations contained in the Reuters report.
Ojukwu said the reports calls for clarity action as well as highlights the urgent need for transparency in security operations in the country as well as the need to protect citizens from impunity.
Ojukwu thanked partners and stakeholders including UNICEF and other UN bodies in Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, the Attorney Generals of Borno and Yobe States, the UN High Commission on Refugees, Norwegian Embassy, Canadian Embassy, Nigerian Air Force, US Embassy, Nigerian Defence Headquarters, management and staff of NHRC and the media for their contributions and sacrifices during the period of the panel’s work.
Details later…..
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Zulum reinstates 23 suspended health workers, deploys others
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the reinstatement of 23 health workers previously suspended for absence from their duty posts at Gwoza General Hospital.
This decision was announced during the Governor’s inspection of the hospital’s newly renovated maternity and child center, as well as other ongoing projects.
Dauda Iliya, Spokesperson and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, in a statement Tuesday, said the health workers had initially been suspended after Zulum’s earlier visit, where he found them absent from their duties.
Addressing the staff, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of dedication to work and assured them of improved working conditions and other incentives.
“Complaints were made about the 23 medical workers who were absent during my last visit,” he noted. “No one is perfect, so the government has pardoned them, although no arrears will be paid.”
In response to a staff shortage raised by the Principal Medical Officer of Gwoza General Hospital, Dr Nuhu Nasiru Wakawa, Governor Zulum directed the immediate deployment of four additional doctors and ten nurses to the facility.
He further announced that Gwoza General Hospital will be upgraded to support training for nursing students from the new school of nursing under construction.
“The Commissioner of Health, together with the Chief Medical Director of the Hospitals Management Board, will work on this deployment,” Zulum added. “We will also recruit community health workers from Gwoza to strengthen local healthcare services.”
In addition to his healthcare initiatives, Governor Zulum inspected the crusher plant base under construction in Pulka, which will produce up to 300 tonnes of stones per hour.
He said the completion of the crushing and asphalt plants is expected to facilitate new road networks across Borno State.
The Governor also visited other development sites, including the 500-unit mass housing project in Wala B, Gwoza Local Government Area, and a proposed site for a high Islamic school in Bama, underscoring his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and educational advancement.
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Dangote to begin direct supply of petroleum products to marketers
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has secured an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly.
IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this at an ongoing press briefing on Monday in Abuja, following a meeting of the National Working Committee of the Association.
He said the partnership would ensure a steady, affordable supply of PMS products nationwide.
“After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.”
Garima urged IPMAN members to support Dangote Refinery, citing the benefits of backward integration and its positive impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.
“IPMAN members should rely on Dangote Refinery and Nigerian refineries for white products, creating more job opportunities and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.”
The latest development concludes several months of negotiations between both parties and is expected to increase efficiency, affordability, and economic growth.
The Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe, has already commenced the production of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, with plans to supply products to over 30,000 IPMAN members and 150,000 retail outlets nationwide.
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Vandals destroy Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line
Vandals have destroyed three towers and stole two spans of aluminum conductors along the Lokoja-Gwagwalada electricity transmission line.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported the development a statement, saying the attack has disrupted bulk power transmission in the affected area.
Despite the damage, the company confirmed that power supply continues through a secondary line, as it works to replace the stolen materials.
TCN expressed growing concern over the escalating vandalism of power infrastructure, which it said is threatening the stability and expansion of Nigeria’s national grid.
The company urged local communities to cooperate with security forces in safeguarding transmission lines and towers to prevent further damage to the country’s power network.
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