The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has set up a panel to look into allegations of an elaborate secret abortion program by the Nigerian military in the northeast.
An investigative report published by Reuters in December 2022 alleged that the Nigerian military ran the program, which had secretly allowed 10,000 pregnancies of freed Boko Haram terrorist captives in the troubled region over the years.
NHRC spokesperson Fatimah Mohammed said in a statement on Tuesday that the inauguration of the seven-member committee appointed to investigate the charge would take place on February 7 at 10:00 am. The commission will be held at the Bukhari Bello Auditorium in Abuja.
The panel is known as the Special Independent Investigation Team on Human Rights Violations in the Implementation of North-East Counter-Insurgency Operations (SIIP-North-East).
Abdu Aboki, a retired Supreme Court judge, will serve as president.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate (SAN), according to the statement, said the appointment of the commission was prompted by the Reuters report.
“Furthermore, the international media organization alleged that the Military was involved in the massacre of children as well as some Sexual and Gender Violence in the North East,” Ojukwu said.
Many of the pregnancies, according to Reuters, were the result of the rape of women and girls kidnapped by Boko Haram fighters.
Sources for the story, according to the organization, included dozens of eyewitness accounts and documents reviewed by Reuters.
The report sparked controversy, with many calling for an independent investigation into allegations of systemic and forced abortions allegedly carried out by the Nigerian military.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, called him Nigerian authorities to begin with thorough investigation and “immediate remedial actions and accountability.”
In its reaction, the Nigerian Government, on the other hand, reject Reuters report that there was no secret program for forced abortions in the northeast of the country.
“The Federal Government categorically states that there is no ‘secret, systematic and illegal abortion program’ by our military in the North East or across the country,” said Information Minister Lai Mohammed.
Read the full statement below
NHRC APPOINTS SPECIAL INVESTIGATION PANEL INTO ANTI-RIGIL OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH-EAST
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will on Tuesday (February 7, 2023) inaugurate the Special Independent Investigation Team into Human Rights Violations in the implementation of counter-insurgency operations in the North-East (SIIP-North-East).
The inauguration will take place at the Bukhari Bello Auditorium, NHRC headquarters, at 10:00 am.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu OFR, SAN, who made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja, stated that the panel will inter alia investigate the Reuters report which alleged that the Nigerian Military was involved in the abortion of many pregnancies in the North East. in the last 10 years.
Furthermore, the international media organization alleged that the Military was involved in the massacre of children as well as other sexual and gender-based violence in the northeast.
However, the Military has denied the allegations saying it was a ploy to malign the image of the Nigerian Armed Forces which has been at the forefront of counter insurgency efforts in the North East.
It should be recalled that the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, during his visit to the Commission in December 2022, told the Executive Secretary that the Military is ready and willing to conduct any investigation, especially as it pertains to the Reuters report. above
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Jury members Honorable Justice Abdu Aboki, Retired Supreme Court Judge (President), Mrs. Kemi Okonyedo, Representative of Women’s Rights Organisation, Barrister Azubuike Nwankenta, NBA Representative, Rtd Major General Letam Wiwa (Military Law and Intelligence Expert), Dr. Maisaratu Bakari (Obstetrics and Gynecology Consultant (Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital Yola), Dr. Fatima Akilu (Social Expert, representing Civil Society), and Mrs. Halima Nuradeen (Psychologist, Youth Representative).
Fatimah Mohammed,
Deputy Director of Public Affairs.
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