By
Shekara Anthony
About fourteen persons have so far been interrogated across three medical facilities in Yola the Adamawa State capital by the Special Independent Investigative Panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission to investigate alleged human rights violations against the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The fourteen persons were interrogated at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, formerly the Federal Medical Centre, Adamawa State Specialist Hospital and the Medical Clinic at the Gibson Jalo Cantonment, 23 Brigade, all in Yola.
The Special Independent Investigative Panel, which is investigating Reuters News Agency reports on human rights violations allegedly committed by the Nigerian Armed Forces which include forceful termination of pregnancies carried out on women and girls amounting to about ten thousand, killing of children with supposed links to Boko Haram and attacks on women which amounted to sexual and gender based violence.
The decision to visit the medical facilities was informed by the believe that there could be possible collaboration and connivance with these hospitals to assist the military personnel in the field to carry out the abortions and other criminal acts they are being accused of.
Earlier before commencing the interrogations, the leader of the panel, Justice Abdu Aboki, a retired Supreme Court Justice, had sought the cooperation of the hospitals and individuals that will appear before the panel so as to achieve the aim of the investigation.
While at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the teaching hospital, Dr. Ahmadu Baba Usman, who was the first to appear before the panel said the operations of the hospital were guided by medical ethics and the staff wouldn’t have indulged in acts that violates their professional ethics.
Other senior medical personnel that were interviewed at teaching hospital include the head of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Umaru Inuwa, HOD Nursing Department, Fadimatu Umar, HOD Pharmaceutical Department, Philip Faith and the Mortician, Abdullahi Umar.
The Medical Director at state specialist hospital, Dr. Wadinga Dauda, said he wasn’t aware of the Reuters News Agency report on alleged human rights abuse by the Nigerian Armed Forces, but affirmed that to the best of his knowledge, the hospital was never used by the military to carry out any illegal act other than the usual referral of some of its casualties which does not fall within the allegations being investigated.
The Panel also interrogated the head of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fadimatu Abubakar, HOD Nursing Department, Grace Gadzama, HOD Pharmaceutical Department, Hashiya Mohammed Shuaibu, Director Health Information Management, Comrade Mohammed Baba and the Chief Mortician of the Specialist Hospital, Aliyu Ibrahim.
The investigative Panel while at the Military Clinic at the 23 Brigade Barracks, also interrogated the head of the Clinic, Captain Olufemi Olawale as well as the Pharmacy technician and the Medical Lab attendant.
The Special Independent Investigative Panel in all the medical facilities visited requested for documents and records that will help them complete their investigations.
