Army clarifies recirculated Giwa Barracks report
By Ali Mohammed Zanna, Maiduguri
The Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), says a recirculated Amnesty International report on Giwa Barracks dates back to 2016.
Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, stated this in a statement issued on Sunday.
Goni said the report, published in May 2016, contained allegations of detainee deaths between January and May of that year.
He said recirculating the report without its original date and context could wrongly suggest that the allegations were recent.
The OPHK urged media organisations and the public to verify the date, source and context of archival reports before sharing them.
It said the Joint Investigation Centre at Giwa Barracks currently operates in line with Nigerian laws and applicable international standards.
According to the statement, emphasis is placed on detainees’ welfare, including healthcare, skills acquisition, vocational training and Western and Islamic education.
It added that humanitarian and human rights organisations engage with the centre, while media organisations had access to observe its activities in 2026.
OPHK reaffirmed its commitment to lawful and professional treatment of detainees and continuous improvement of their welfare.
