JTF Human Rights Violation: We Lack Control Over Soldiers - Borno

Source: thewillnigeria.com
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SAN FRANCISCO, November 29, (THEWILL) - The Borno State Government has washed its hands clean over the activities of the task force deployed to the state at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency explaining that the state government does not have control over the activities of the Joint Task Force, JTF.

Many residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and adjoining towns have complained over the violation of their human rights by the members of the JTF.

The state’s acting Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan speaking at a press conference to address the complaints of the residents said the JTF is not answerable to the state government or his ministry as the task force was set up by the federal government to bring order back to parts of the state being ravaged by the Islamic fundamentalists.

Continuing, he said some citizens have complained about the abuse of their rights by members of the JTF asking those aggrieved citizens to send in a petition which his ministry would see through adding that his ministry has established a directorate of citizens' rights to deal with any complaint or petition from the public.

The state commissioner said the directorate among other things will pursue the petition or complaint against the task force once it is presented before it.

He threw more light on the administration of justice in the state saying since the inception of the Kashim Shettima Administration about 100 inmates have enjoyed the prerogative of mercy and have been unconditionally set free from prison. Those who benefitted from this prerogative of mercy include those convicted of minor offences and have already served the major part of their prison term behind bars or those afflicted by one ailment or the other and released by the governor on compassionate grounds based on the recommendation of an established committee.

Lawan said many prisoners in the state are expected to be set free on January 1, 2013 as an effort to decongest the prisons and the magnanimity of the state governor.