The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has described as unacceptable the reported flogging and physical assault of suspected bandits by some military personnel in Zamfara.
It condemned the act saying it was contrary to the Standing Operating Procedures of its personnel.
NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday said a Board of Inquiry has been set up by the Headquarters Special Operations Command, HQ SOC, to look into the unfortunate incident.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to a video and some pictures circulating on some social media and online platforms showing some military personnel flogging suspected armed bandits at Shinkafi Local Government Area, LGA, in Zamfara State.
“The NAF has discovered that some of its personnel were part of the joint team stationed at the Galadi Sub-Sector at the time.
“The NAF wishes to state unequivocally that the troops’ actions of flogging and physically assaulting the disarmed suspects were totally unacceptable and not in consonance with the Standing Operating Procedures, SOPs, guiding the conduct of the operation.
“Our personnel have always been directed to respect the rights of innocent civilians as well as captured combatants, no matter the provocation.
“The joint team had, sequel to intelligence reports, intercepted a group of suspected armed bandits, including some fighters from across the border, at their Sububu Forest hideout whilst they were on the verge of executing an attack against innocent civilians in Shinkafi.
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“In the process, the team recovered one AK-47 rifle along with 3 loaded magazines and 3 dane guns from the bandits.
“In an effort to obtain further information on the criminals’ plans and the location of their armoury, the troops employed unauthorized, crude corporal methods.
“The public is to please note that the NAF has zero tolerance for such human rights violations and has since initiated appropriate action to address the anomaly.
“In this regard, a Board of Inquiry, BOI, has been set up by the Headquarters Special Operations Command (HQ SOC) to determine the remote and immediate causes of the incident with a view to ensuring that appropriate disciplinary action is taken against all NAF personnel found culpable.”
Daramola said the public would be informed of the outcome of the investigations, reiterating the commitment of the NAF to professionalism in carrying out its duties as a fighting force adding that it would continue to operate within the ambits of all relevant laws and procedures.
