The investigative panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has grilled 50 military officers, hospital officials and rescued women over a report the military has been involved in forced abortions of girls and women fleeing Boko Haram fighters.

A report by the Reuters in December last year alleged that the military was involved in about 10,000 such abortions since 2013.

The NHRC panel, which began an independent investigation into the matter last month, was in Yola Friday afternoon for a hearing in which members interviewed two brigade commanders, namely Brigadier General Beyidi Martins who heads the 28 Taskforce Brigade with headquarters in Chibok, Borno State; and Brigadier General Mohammed Jibrin Gambo who is the Commaneer of the 23 Armoured Brigade in Yola.

Secretary of the NHRC Investigative Panel, Mr Hilary Ogbona who posed questions to the generals, had earlier said in his opening speech that 50 such military leaders, other stakeholders and the suggested victims had been interviewed in the investigation which had already taken the panel to Borno and Yobe states.

He said that the investigation continued and that findings of the panel were being collated and would be made public at the end of its sittings.

He said the panel would on Saturday visit military and civilian hospitals around Adamawa State as part of its investigative tour of Adamawa State.

He posed questions to the generals designed to find substance or otherwise around the forced abortion allegations.

In response, General Martins said the allegation in its entirety was ridiculous as the Nigerian military is too professional and too given to global best practices in regard to human rights to take it upon itself to force abortions on women for any reason.. (Courtesy, excluding headline, The Nation)

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