Jonathan writes Obama "We will protect Human Right in our Boko Haram fight"

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured his United States counterpart, Mr. Barrack Obama, that Nigeria will protect human rights in prosecuting the war against terrorism in the country.

Jonathan, in a June 4 letter to Obama, a copy of which THISDAY obtained Wednesday, said law enforcement agents had been instructed to ensure strict compliance with “clearly defined rules of engagement.”

“They are not to engage in acts that may have the effect  of compromising the human rights and safety of innocent citizens  in the areas of operation,” he said.

Jonathan’s assurances of Nigeria’s preparedness to safeguard human rights, while prosecuting the campaign against terror, especially in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States where the federal government had declared a state of emergency, came against the backdrop of concern the US expressed in May over alleged rights abuses by the military  in the three states.

The US in May had warned military authorities in Nigeria against abuse of civilian rights in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram  insurgency in the three states under emergency rule.
Washington, in a state by the Secretary of State, Mr.  John Kerry, said the US “is deeply concerned about the fighting in northeastern Nigeria following President Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in the Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States.”

US also noted that it was “deeply concerned by credible allegations that Nigerian security forces are committing gross human rights violations, which, in turn, only escalate the violence and fuel extremism.”

However, Jonathan in the letter to Obama, said his administration would protect rights of residents while prosecuting its campaign against terror. - ThisDayLive

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