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Amnesty International, a leading global human rights organization, has reported that more than 10,000 civilians have died in Nigerian military custody since the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency in the country’s North-East region.
At a press conference on Thursday, the organization’s Country Director, Malam Isa Sanusi, emphasized the urgent need for justice and accountability to bring an end to the conflict.
Sanusi revealed that Amnesty International has filed a case with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, alleging crimes against humanity committed by both Boko Haram and the Nigerian military.
According to the organization’s findings, the Nigerian military has been implicated in numerous human rights violations, including intentional attacks on civilians, indiscriminate bombings, extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence.
Sanusi said, “Amnesty International has documented war crimes by government forces, such as intentional attacks on civilians, extrajudicial executions, torture, rape, and enforced disappearances. These acts amount to crimes against humanity committed in a widespread and systematic manner.”
The organization also highlighted Boko Haram’s atrocities, which include mass killings, abductions, attacks on schools, and the use of children as soldiers and sex slaves. Its ideology of opposing “Western education” has led to targeted violence against women and children.
The report, titled “Girls Survivors of Boko Haram and Military Abuses in North-East Nigeria,” detailed the suffering of young girls abducted by Boko Haram, many of whom were forced into sexual slavery, endured forced pregnancies, and faced stigma upon returning to their communities.
Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian military for further mistreating survivors who escaped from Boko Haram, including arbitrary detention and neglect.
Sanusi noted, “Girls and young women have suffered horrific abuses, including stigma, rejection, and a lack of access to education and healthcare. The government must prioritize their recovery, reintegration, and justice for the atrocities they endured.”
He urged the Nigerian government to take responsibility for addressing these violations, ensuring justice for the victims, and supporting their reintegration into society.
