Amnesty International has reported that more than 10,000 individuals have died in military custody since the onset of the Boko Haram crisis in Northeast Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference in Maiduguri on Thursday, the organization’s Country Director, Isa Sunusi, highlighted the urgent need for justice to bring closure to those affected by the violence perpetrated by Boko Haram and military forces.
Sunusi stated, “The Nigerian military has often treated anyone in, or coming out of, Boko Haram-controlled areas as, at minimum, a suspected Boko Haram member.”
He added that Amnesty International has submitted a case to the International Criminal Court, citing alleged crimes against humanity committed in the region.
The organization’s comprehensive 144-page report accuses government forces of war crimes, including extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, and other forms of violence. Boko Haram was also implicated in severe violations, including mass abductions, attacks on civilians and schools, and forced child conscription.
The report, titled “Girls Survivors of Boko Haram and Military Abuses in North-east Nigeria,” details atrocities endured by young girls and women, including sexual slavery and forced pregnancies. It also criticizes the government’s neglect in addressing the recovery and reintegration of these survivors.
Sunusi emphasized, “The girls that escaped from the insurgents returned to the government-controlled areas, and the crimes that they endured had long-lasting consequences that are specific to their ages and gender.”
He urged the government to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these abuses and to ensure adequate support for survivors to rebuild their lives