The Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in North-East Nigeria (SIIP-North East) has exonerated the Nigerian military from allegations of forced abortions and child massacres as claimed in a 2022 Reuters report. The panel’s findings were submitted on Friday to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Led by retired Supreme Court Justice Abdu Aboki, the seven-member panel, which was established by the NHRC to investigate Reuters’ claims, found no evidence supporting allegations of the military conducting systematic forced abortions, including the termination of an alleged 10,000 pregnancies. According to Mr. Hillary Ogbona, the General Counsel to the panel and Senior Human Rights Adviser to the NHRC, the investigation found no records or testimony proving that the military engaged in such operations.
The report also found that Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international NGO, conducted abortion procedures in the region, though no evidence implicated the military. Furthermore, allegations of military-led massacres of children in Kukawa, Dasarua, Abagano, and other areas were found to be unsubstantiated.
However, the panel reported incidents involving the killing of community members in Abisare, Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, on June 16, 2016, where the military was deemed responsible. The panel recommended compensation for victims within 90 days and urged the Nigerian Armed Forces to prosecute officers implicated in the incident.
Additionally, the report advised the Federal Government and Borno State to improve social infrastructure, particularly for communities recovering from conflict. It recommended measures to protect whistle-blowers within the military and called for more transparency in military operations to ensure civilian protection.
Justice Aboki acknowledged challenges faced during the investigation, including the absence of Reuters and limited cooperation from international organizations. The NHRC has committed to public consultations on the report, starting in Maiduguri, and plans to engage with stakeholders, including the military, to implement the panel’s recommendations for justice and accountability.
NHRC Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu emphasized the report’s significance, noting it offers clarity and a roadmap for reforms aimed at upholding human rights during counter-insurgency efforts. The NHRC will collaborate with UN partners to develop programs for the resettlement and support of conflict-affected communities and to ensure all recommendations are rigorously pursued.
