Army troop on duty in N/East

The Nigerian Army has promised to investigate a torture video showing the extrajudicial killing of a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, which has gone viral on the social media and punish the personnel behind it.

A statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, condemned the act strongly by some soldiers yet to be identified.

“The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a video reportedly showing some NA personnel engaged in unprofessional torture and above all extrajudicial killing of a suspected Boko Haram terrorist likely in the North East Theatre of Operation.

“The NA wishes to clearly and strongly condemn the action of those involved (whoever they may be) in the misconduct, and that the dastardly act is completely unacceptable, unethical and is against the cherished core values of the NA especially that of respect for others and their fundamental rights.”

It added that troops in various theatre commands have been warned consistently to desist from rights infractions of any form, including extrajudicial killings and if such are found, investigated and confirmed, the erring personnel will be punished.

“NA training, Rules of Engagement and Standing Operating Procedures guiding the conduct of all her operations are unambiguous about human rights abuses and extra-judicial actions including the rights of the arrested/captured terrorists/combatants.

“Troops in the various theaters of operations in Nigeria, have been consistently warned to desist from rights infractions of any form no matter the amount of desperation, anger or provocation.

“NA does not license, encourage or condone indiscipline, unprofessional conduct especially extrajudicial execution of suspects or combatants. Where ever, such is noticed or reported, once it is confirmed, appropriate decisive sanction or punishment is usually immediately meted out to the perpetrators and this case would never be an exception.”

It stated that the gory video has prompted a thorough investigation in a bid to apprehend the culprits with the aim to deal with them in accordance with the extant military justice system.