Nigerian Army opens Human Rights Office in Maiduguri

On October 4, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Maiduguri, Borno State, commissioned a new office building for handling cases of human right abuses by army personnel. The office is located within the Brigadier General Maimalari barracks where the headquarters of the Operation Lafiya Dole is located. The army had in February 2016 announced the setting up of a human rights desk at its headquarters where issues of alleged rights abuses by soldiers during any military operations could be addressed. The desk was conceived as a response to allegations of human rights violations by military personnel involved in counter-insurgency operations. It is expected that the desk will ensure compliance with the rules of engagement by all those serving in the counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East.