KEY POINTS

• The Attorney-General of the Federation reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to human rights protection.
• The investigation panel established by NHRC delivered its report about counter-insurgency measures in North-East Nigeria to the authorities.
• A review implementation committee will establish itself under government authority to assess the findings from the report.

Federal Government remains devoted to protecting human rights throughout the country according to Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) in his role as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Fagbemi received the Special Independent Investigative Panel report on North-East counter-insurgency operations at this time. Under direction from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) operations researchers confirmed human rights violations during battlefield activities.

The government maintains its dedication to enforce justice and the law through efforts which meet international human rights requirements despite existing insurgency conditions.

The armed forces have preserved peace and security while defending them professionally against all threats he stated. Through continuous improvements Government implements systems which guarantee military operations preserve the highest respect for human rights and international humanitarian standards.

Investigation results created foundations for future reform initiatives

The Reuters News Agency published articles about rights violations causing the government to start an independent probe for transparency and accountability purposes.

The National Human Rights Commission established this special examination panel to conduct a detailed assessment of all clips and testimony against military forces according to its authority from the government. Our firm dedication to human rights and due process standards became clear through these decisive steps.

The findings from the panel will assist in enhancing government policies as well as military counter-insurgency operational protocols according to the minister’s guarantee. The establishment of a review committee received announcement from the minister who would sacrifice to transform the collected information into actionable recommendations.

During his presentation the panel chair described the problems which impeded the investigative process. In his role as chairman of the investigative panel Justice Abdu Aboki (rtd) admitted that both complex security environments and uncooperative international organizations proved major obstacles for their investigations.

The International Committee of the Red Cross along with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) failed to give full cooperation to the investigative efforts even though they held important positions in the probe according to him.

The implementation of these recommendations would make Nigeria strengthen its dedication to human rights protection and accountability according to Justice Aboki.

The NHRC Executive Secretary announced his support for reforms by saying the commission upholds its independence for keeping watch over law enforcement agencies and military forces.