Strategic framework, containing policies and procedures, put in place to deal with gender-based violence or marital issues, disputes among CJTF members, as well as allegations of human rights violations and abuses.
Gender-based violence (GBV) committed by Borno State civilian joint task force (CJTF) members against their wives will no longer be tolerated and may result in immediate dismissal or at least a suspension of three to six months without pay.
This will apply also to members convicted of human rights violations and abuses.
The CJTF leadership said a strategic framework, containing policies and procedures, had been put in place to settle marital issues – including GBV – disputes among CJTF members and/or citizens, as well as allegations of human rights violations and abuses.
Alhaji Masa, a deputy commander of sector 4 of the CJTF, based in Maiduguri, told RNI that the framework had been established to protect human rights and pave the way for all members of the force to conduct marital relationships and those between one another and civilians with dignity and respect.
He said CJTF headquarters had received several complaints from wives and relatives about the conduct – including GBV – of some of its members. Many spouses had also complained that their husbands were not acting responsibly when dealing with household finances.
Masa said: “We set up the framework to regulate the activities of our members and to encourage them to respect and value the socioeconomic relationships among one another, as well as among them and civilians.
“In terms of the strategic framework, from now on debt issues between our members and other individuals will be settled through peaceful negotiations. In some cases if there is a financial dispute, we may have to deduct the money owing from members’ salaries.
“As far as settling marital disputes, we call on our members and their wives to speak to us so that we can intervene. If the dispute has to do with financial issues, we will come to an agreement with the spouses. If we find the member is at fault by refusing to fulfil his financial responsibility to his family, we will divide the salary into three parts; two portions will go his wife and children and the remaining portion will be given to the CJTF member. The basic salary of all our members is ₦30,000.
“If it is a gender-based violence issue and the CTJF member is maltreating his wife – be it physically or psychologically – we will immediately launch an investigation into the matter to try to find out the root causes and to ensure his wife gets justice.”
Masa said the leadership of the CJTF had also received claims that some of its members were guilty of human rights violations and abuses.
“If any of our members are found guilty of human rights abuses or violations, or gender-based violence, they will be suspended for a period without pay or dismissed from service. The punishment will depend on the crime a member is convicted of committing.”
Masa said the framework emphasised that CJTF perpetrators of any forms of human rights violations and GBV would be punished. Depending on the nature and severity of the crime, CJTF members could be suspended without pay for three to six months. In severe cases they faced “complete dismissal from service”.
He said it was in the interests of CJTF members to refrain from all forms of GBV and human rights abuses.
Fatima Umar, a wife of a CJTF member, claimed her husband maltreated her and neglected both her and the children, adding that he was also not taking financial responsibility for his family.
She forwarded her complaint to CJTF’s headquarters. An investigation took place and her husband was found guilty of not taking financial responsibility for her or their children. Fatima was given full control of her husband’s salary so that she could buy food and other essentials for the family. Her husband had no choice in the matter but to agree to the terms.
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
