The African Centre for Human Rights And Protection, ACHRP, has reacted to the Reuters’ report, which had alleged that the Nigerian military ran a secret mass abortion programme in the northeast, dismissing the report for lack of substance.
The Centre also said the report was an insult to Nigeria as a nation and its people, capable of undermining the Nigerian military and the nation.
Dr Fabian Nyiakula, the Executive Director of the Centre, disclosed this speaking at a press conference in Abuja.
Nyiakula said the Centre arrived at the conclusion following an extensive analysis of the operations of the Armed Forces in the north-east.
He, therefore, questioned how Reuters could make such a claim, when it said the report was based on an interview granted to it by 33 women and girls, insisting the report should be thrown away for lack of substance.
“The puerile attempt by Reuters to paint the Nigerian Army in a bad light must have stemmed from the recent gains recorded in the prosecution of the war against terrorism, which by all indications is not appreciated by the promoters of Reuters.
“Reuters contradicted itself when it alluded that aspects of the Nigerian Army’s abortion programme remain murky. Because of the secrecy involved, it is impossible to know precisely how many abortions were done. Interviews and documents suggest the count could be significantly higher than the tally of at least 10,000 cases that Reuters was able to establish.
Nyiakula further noted that the Nigerian Army’s efforts in tackling the dangers posed in North East Nigeria by the Boko Haram terrorists have been outstanding.
