Groups Tell Military Spokesman to Resign

The Human Rights Agenda Network, a coalition of over 150 human rights organisations, on Tuesday asked the resignation of the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, over “misinformation” on the rescue of schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect in

Chibok, Borno State.

In a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Chino Obiagwu, and a member of its steering committee, Lanre Suraj, HRAN said the initial claim that 107 girls had been rescued showed that in the face of a national tragedy, the military was only concerned about its image.

Noting that the incident suggested that the military was not transparent in its engagement with the Boko Haram sect, the human rights organisations wondered whether Nigerians should believe any information emanating from the amilitary in its campaign against the insurgents.

Condemning the development, the coalition said, “Human Rights Agenda Network condemns the misinformation issued by the military spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade, on Wednesday, April 16, 2014, claiming that 107 abducted girls from the Government College, Chibok, Borno State, have been freed and that only eight of the girls were still missing.

“This information has been vehemently rebutted by the Borno State Government and the Principal of the school, Mrs Asabe Kwambura, that only 14 of the schools girls have returned.

“HRAN strongly condemns this blatant display of unprofessionalism, insensitivity, dishonesty and lack of transparency by the military, and call for the resignation of Major General Chris Olukolade.

“HRAN is worried that at a time like this, the Nigerian military is more concerned about boosting its image than working hard to safeguard the lives of Nigerians.”

HRAN noted that it was shocking that a security issue involving the fate of young innocent girls, whose parents have been traumatised since their abduction, could be toyed with by the military.

Describing the nature of the misinformation as unprofessional, HRAN doubted the military’s claim that it was “on top” of the situation in Borno State and other parts of the country affected by the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

The statement added, “HRAN is specifically disturbed that the military, which claims to be ‘on top the situation’ since the emergence of the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram sect, is basing its public declaration on the number of girls freed, on what was purportedly fed to them by the principal of the school.

“HRAN is appalled at this level of careless and display of unprofessionalism by the military as it did not take into consideration, the sensitive nature of the issue at stake and the likely effect of the information passed, before making the statement.  “HRAN also notes that this development smacks of lack of transparency on the part of the military, in its engagement with the Boko Haram insurgency as Nigerians are now at a loss on what or who to believe.”