Probe panel’s report exonerates ex-Army Chiefs, others of war crimes

The Nigerian Army said on Wednesday night that a Special Board of Inquiry (BOI) it constituted to investigate alleged human rights violations by some army commanders at the theatre of operations in the North East and South East zones of the country has exonerated indicted officers of any wrong doing.

Presenting the highlight of a report of probe panel that looked into Amnesty International allegations of war crimes against two former chiefs of Army Staff, two former Chiefs of Defence Staff and some top commanders, the Chief of Civil Military Affairs Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, said that allegations could not be substantiated for lack of forensic evidence.

Six retired Army officers who served at theatre of operations in the North East at the peak of Boko Haram insurgency, including four ex-service Chiefs have been denied visa to the United States based on Amnesty International report that indicted them of war crimes under the doctrine of command responsibility.

The officers are Maj. Gen. John Ewansiha, a former General Officer Commanding Operation Restore Order and Operation BOYONA; Maj. Gen. Obida Ethan, a former General Officer Commanding 7 Division Maiduguri; Maj. Gen. Ahmadu Mohammed, Commander, 7 Division; Maj. Gen. Austin Edokpayi, Commander, MNJTF Baga; and Brig. Gen. R.O Bamigboye.

Others are former Chiefs of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and Lt. Gen. K.T.J Minimah and two former Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa’ad and Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, all of who served during the heat of Boko Haram insurgency.

The Army board which was set up on March 8, 2017 had Maj. Gen. A.T Jibrin (rtd) as its Chairman; Barr. Olawale Faponhunda; Barr. Tony Ojukwu; Brig. Gen. O.L Olayinka; Brig. Gen. A. Dadan-Garba and Lt. Col. C. M Akaliro had submitted its report on May 18, 2017.

The board dismissed alleged extrajudicial killing of over 640 suspected Boko Haram detainees in Giwa Barracks cell, 185 others in Baga detention camp in Maiduguri, Borno State, and killing of 13 IPOB members allegedly buried in shallow graves along Aba-Port Harcourt Highway, South East.

The board however admitted that most Boko Haram suspects were kept in dehumanising and congested condition especially in Kirikiri Maximum and Minimum prisons, and were denied legal representations and access to justice.

The summary report which was presented to the journalists without a single member of the panel in attendance, recommended among others convocation of high level meeting to improve better coordination between Federal Ministry of Justice and security organisations to enhance access to justice by suspected terrorists.