The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) found the Nigerian Army guilty of mass killings in the North-East but cleared it of allegations related to forced abortions in the region.
This conclusion follows the findings of the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North-East, which has been conducting the inquiry for nearly two years.
The panel, led by retired Supreme Court Justice Abdu Adoke, released its report at the NHRC headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
The investigation, while disproving claims that the military was responsible for terminating 10,000 pregnancies, confirmed its involvement in mass killings, particularly in an incident on June 16, 2016, in Abisare, a village in Marite Local Government Area of Borno State.
“The panel carefully reviewed each allegation.
While there was no evidence to support the claim of 10,000 abortions carried out by the Nigerian Armed Forces, we found the military culpable of infanticide and the killing of community members in Abisare,” said Hillary Ogbonna, the panel’s secretary.
Witnesses, including survivors and relatives of victims, provided testimony to support these findings.
Justice Adoke praised the independence of the investigation, stating that it was conducted without interference from the NHRC or any government agency.
“I can proudly assert that an extensive investigation based on justice and fairness has been achieved,” he said.
NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, emphasized that the commission would engage in public consultations to ensure the implementation of the panel’s recommendations.
“The NHRC is committed to ensuring that the citizens of Abisare, as identified in the report, receive compensation,” Ojukwu stated, adding that the commission would collaborate with the military and the Office of the Attorney General to ensure justice is served.
The panel’s report also highlighted a December 2022 Reuters investigation that accused the Nigerian military of executing systemic and illegal abortion programs, allegedly ending at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls who were captured by the military from Boko Haram.
The report claimed that the abortions were performed without the consent of the women involved.
Despite the claims, the NHRC panel found no substantiated evidence to support the accusations, but it called for continued scrutiny and accountability for human rights violations during the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
