A non partisan human rights advocacy group, Women Concerns, has demanded for an unreserved apology from an international news agency, Reuters to the Nigerian military for its unsubstantiated allegations that it deliberately attacked women and children and carried out secret abortions in its fight against Islamist insurgency in the Northeast.
The request follows the findings by a special commission of inquiry set up by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which discredited the Reuters’ and exenorated the military.
According to the NHRC “There is no evidence to establish that the Nigerian military conducted a secret abortion programme in the north-east, ending pregnancies of thousands of women and girls freed from insurgent captivity,” it said in a report, which was released at a press conference in the capital Abuja.
Addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, converner of the group Aishatu Balarabe, condemned the deliberate attempts to malign the Armed Forces of Nigeria, saying Reuters should not continue to hold on to a report which couldn’t be proven, but apologise to the Military.
She added that the NHRC report is an indictment of the Reuters report.
She advised the news organization should use its channels to support ongoing operations in affected areas in Nigeria.
“Reuters should stop carrying unbalanced stories, which can mar the efforts of the Nigerian military.
“Women Concerns have done its investigation, using the local people in the North East Nigeria. Our investigation show Reuters report can’t be substantiated. Rather than holding on to this, we call on Reuters to apologise to the Military.
“What Nigeria, especially the military needs right now is support and moral boosters to bring the security challenges to an end.
“Women Concerns are confident that despite the activities of war mongers, the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa will continue to deal with those who don’t want peace and progress,” the Group added.
