‘We’re avoiding rights abuse in anti-terror war’

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said the Federal Government had been doing everything to ensure that the nation’s troops avoid human rights abuse in the course of the military operation to reclaim territories seized by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

The President said care was also being taken to avoid damages to the lives and properties of civilians during the operation.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted the President as speaking while granting audience to the new South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Noh Kyu-Duk, who was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to present his letters of credence.

Jonathan said while previous reports of rights abuse by the military had been investigated and found to be exaggerated, he said the government had been closely monitoring the troops in the current effort and that international best practices were being adhered to in the anti-terrorism war.

The statement read, “We are sticking to international best practices in prosecuting the war against terrorism and doing our best to ensure that we don’t have cases of human rights abuses in the North-East.

“We are consistently monitoring the situation and have investigated previous reports of such abuse, which were mostly blown out of proportion for political reasons.

“Our military has a reputation for discipline and we have insisted on that discipline and control for the safety of civilians in the North-East.

“The purpose of the entire operation is to save our people from the brutal tyranny of Boko Haram, so we cannot tolerate human rights abuses or wilfully impose further suffering on them.”

Jonathan said the nation’s security apparatus was being reviewed with a view to ensuring safety of Nigerians and foreign workers in all parts of the country.

He urged friends of the country, especially those that are more technologically advanced, to complement government’s efforts aimed at building a more secure and prosperous country in which citizens and foreigners could live in peace.

The President urged Kyu-Duk and his Indonesian counterpart, Mr. Harry Purwanto, who was also at the Presidential Villa, to work for the strengthening of existing trade and economic relations between Nigeria and their countries.

The new ambassadors thanked Jonathan for receiving them and assured him that they would do their best to promote stronger economic and cultural relations between their countries and Nigeria.