Nigerian authorities said Thursday they would probe all cases of misconduct by a “few bad eggs” among troops who commit crimes against civilians while trying to battle Islamists in northeast of the country.
“A few bad eggs amongst them sometimes over react to situations and create discontent amongst the civilian population thereby dragging the name of the military to disrepute,” Defence Minister Bello Mohammed said in a statement.
Mohammed said that he has directed the military high command “to investigate all incidents of military misconduct against law abiding citizens”.
Efforts, he said, were also under way to “orientate” the armed forces to make them civilian-friendly in their approach to tackle problems of insecurity.
The minister particularly referred to the alleged shooting death of a woman in Biu town following the arrest of some Boko Haram sect suspects.
Riots broke out in the northern Nigerian town of Biu on Wednesday after soldiers were accused of shooting the woman protester, with churches and the traditional leader’s palace set alight, residents said.
The riot followed a protest over the arrest of several teachers from an Islamic school on suspicion of belonging to an Islamist sect that has been blamed for scores of attacks, they said.
The country’s northeast has been hit by scores of attacks blamed on the sect known as Boko Haram. Most of the attacks have occurred in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, but a number have also taken place in Biu.
The region has been extremely tense in recent weeks and thousands of residents have fled Maiduguri. Some have called for the troops — deployed to restore order — to be withdrawn, a move the government has so far resisted.
Troops are instructed to arrest all suspected criminals, use minimum force when necessary and be tactful with civilians during security operations, Mohammed said.
Hundreds of troops were deployed to Maiduguri as a result of the violence, and soldiers have been accused of shooting civilians and burning homes after accusing residents of cooperating with the Islamists.
The sect has claimed to be fighting for the establishment of an Islamic state in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation of 150 million people roughly split between Christians and Muslims.
Aug122011