21 Armoured Brigade (stationed in Giwa Barracks) from Feb 12 till Sep 13 (year not given). He was in charge of the barracks during the period when at least 5,000 detainees died in custody, and when torture and ill-treatment where used routinely.
“AI further alleged that a number of high-level military commanders should be investigated for their potential command responsibility for crimes committed by their subordinates, on the basis that they knew or should have known about the commission of the crimes and failed to take adequate action to prevent the commission of war crimes to stop the commission of war crimes, and to take all steps necessary to ensure the alleged perpetrators were brought to justice in fair trials.
“These officers are: Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, former COAS (Chief of Army Staff), Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, former CDS (Chief of Defence Staff), Air Chief Marsahl Alex Badeh, former CDS, Lt.-Gen. KTJ Minimah, COAS.”
Angbazo further revealed that the board noted despite the fact that there was no finding of human rights abuses against any serving or retired military officers by any court of law or military Board of Inquiry, at least two diplomatic missions either revoked or denied their country entry visas to a number of senior officers who held command responsibilities during the military operations in the North-east.
The committee also exonerated the army of any alleged sexual abuse of IDPs in the North-east, he added.
Angbazo also revealed that these allegations led to the withdrawal and denial of U.S. and UK visas to some serving and retired senior officers.
“There were cases of officers whose names did not appear in the allegation but were also denied visas.
“AHQ (army headquarters) subsequently conducted an investigation and disseminated the reports to all relevant authorities, including the U.S. authorities through the DA (defence attaché) Washington.
“The U.S. however conveyed its dissatisfaction with the report and requested that a more comprehensive inquiry be conducted.
“Thus a Special BOI (Board of Inquiry) was constituted to investigate the allegations,” Angbazo disclosed.
The panel had Maj.-Gen. AT Jibrin (rtd.) as president. Other members included Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, Col. PC Izukanne (rtd.), Mr. Tony Ojukwu, Brig.-Gen. A Dadan-Garba (rtd.), Brig.-Gen. OL Olayinka, Col. LB Mohammed, Col. UM Wambai and Lt.-Col. CM Akaliro as secretary.
