Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has pledged to address mounting allegations of human rights abuses by military personnel following a high-level meeting with Kano based legal practitioner, Barrister Hamza Nuhu Dantani.
Dantani disclosed this on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, explaining that the engagement was prompted by a surge in public complaints, including claims of unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention without trial, and other violations of civil liberties allegedly involving personnel of the Nigerian armed forces.
“I presented several cases of concern directly to the Minister, particularly incidents where civilians were reportedly killed or detained without due process,” Dantani said.
Among the cases highlighted was the alleged killing of Abdulrahman Mustapha, who was reportedly arrested by soldiers on March 22, 2026, and later shot dead under unclear circumstances. According to Dantani, authorities have yet to take decisive action beyond stating that an investigation is ongoing.
Another incident cited involved the death of a 14-year-old girl in Maiduguri on April 4, 2026, after she was struck by a stray bullet while inside her home. While the military reportedly denied responsibility, attributing the shooting to a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Dantani insisted that “strong indications suggest the involvement of a serving soldier.”
The lawyer also raised concerns over individuals allegedly detained for extended periods without trial. He referenced the case of Abdullahi Garba, a resident of Gwoza Local Government Area in Borno State, who has reportedly remained in military custody without formal charges after publicly calling on political leaders to address insecurity in his community.
“There are many more cases that go unreported because victims are either too afraid or lack the capacity to speak out,” Dantani added.
Responding to the concerns, the Defence Minister reportedly assured that steps would be taken to investigate the allegations and improve military-civilian relations.
“The Minister gave his assurance that these issues will be addressed and that necessary reforms will be introduced within the military system,” Dantani said.
He further revealed that the Minister facilitated contact with senior military officials to help expedite resolution of some of the cases.
According to Dantani, the Minister emphasized that channels remain open for lodging complaints and promised that any personnel found culpable would face disciplinary measures.
“He assured that their doors are open to receive complaints and that any officer found guilty of misconduct will be sanctioned,” he noted.
However, the Minister also urged citizens to respect the law and cooperate with security personnel in the discharge of their duties.
