EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
The Global Amnesty Watch Foundation on Friday gave pass mark to the Nigerian Army in its handling of detainees suspected of having links with Boko Haram terrorists in Borno.
The organisation’s Country Representative, Mrs Helen Adesola, gave the pass mark at a news conference after a tour of military detention facility in Maiduguri.
Adesola said that the team of Amnesty officials visited the state on fact finding mission, following alleged abuse of detainees by the army.
She added that the visit was also to investigate suspected outbreak of meningitis among inmates.
She said “Global Amnesty Watch, in line with its mandate, took it upon itself to undertake a fact finding tour of military detention facility in Maiduguri after it got information that the Serotype C Strain of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) has found its way into the facility.
“The tour was undertaken in the firm believe that the detainees have basic rights that cannot be taken away from them.
“Their right to life requires that the disease is not allowed to ravage them.
“By the same token, the rest of the population in the state must be protected by ensuring that the detention facility is not left as reservoir for bacteria that causes meningitis.”
The country representative said the team had interacted with the inmates and had carried out extensive study on the detention facility.
“Our findings is that everything is in order at the detention facility, even though there is room for improvement.
“This is because the facility, like many others, requires additional intervention to ensure that authorities are able to better cater for sick inmates,” she said.
She explained that “much as the military must wake up to its responsibility since the detainees are based in Borno, the state government must not abandon them even though they are being held on suspicion of having link with Boko Haram.
“We will like to emphasise that based on our findings, the Nigerian Army, which is responsible for the detainees, is doing all within its power to ensure their well-being.”