“No evidence”
On Friday, 8 November, Nigeria’s Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said that it found “no evidence” that the Nigerian military intentionally…
On Friday, 8 November, Nigeria’s Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said that it found “no evidence” that the Nigerian military intentionally targeted women and children or conducted secret abortions during its counterinsurgency efforts in the Northeast. This conclusion follows an 18-month investigation into three Reuters reports published in December 2022, which alleged that the military ran an illegal abortion program and massacred children. The NHRC’s investigation included interviews with 199 witnesses, including military personnel, former militants, women who had been freed from Boko Haram captivity and local and foreign aid agencies. However, not all witnesses were named in the report.
The allegations stemmed from a December 2022 report by Reuters, which claimed that since 2013, the Nigerian military had coerced women into undergoing over 10,000 abortions as part of its counter-insurgency efforts against Boko Haram. The report suggested that many of these women were victims of sexual violence, having been kidnapped and raped by militants. It cited interviews with numerous individuals, including victims and military personnel, alleging that women who resisted abortion were subjected to violence or coercion. In response to these serious accusations, the NHRC established a Special Independent Investigative Panel to examine the claims thoroughly. The panel, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Abdul Aboki, included members from various sectors, including the judiciary and civil society, and conducted extensive hearings and witness interviews. Upon concluding its investigation, the NHRC reported that it found no evidence to substantiate the claims of a secret abortion program run by the military. Their investigation involved interviewing 199 witnesses, including military personnel and former captives of Boko Haram. The NHRC’s investigation presents a complex picture. While the panel determined that there was no operational policy or practice within the military to conduct illegal abortions, thus exonerating the military from abortion-related allegations, the NHRC found evidence of infanticide and unlawful killings in specific instances, such as an incident in Abisare village in Borno State in 2016. The NHRC’s findings have significant implications for human rights discourse in Nigeria and beyond. Reuters’ report was based on numerous testimonies; however, the NHRC’s findings suggest a need for corroborative evidence when making serious allegations against state actors. It is crucial to note the complexities in investigating sensitive, wartime human rights issues, as many sources may be reluctant to speak openly about abuses due to fear of retribution or social stigma, especially in conflict zones like northeastern Nigeria. Still, the lack of evidence found by the NHRC does not preclude the possibility that isolated abortions might have occurred, reflecting a broader challenge in conflict zones where documentation and accountability are particularly challenging. The acknowledgement of specific human rights violations by the military indicates ongoing issues regarding accountability and oversight within Nigeria’s armed forces. For survivors of Boko Haram’s violence, the dismissal of these allegations may complicate their narratives and experiences. It highlights a potential disconnect between reported experiences and institutional responses to those experiences. As Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency-related violence, ensuring transparency and protecting vulnerable populations remain paramount for both governmental and non-governmental entities involved in humanitarian efforts. It is difficult to take the outcome of a Nigerian government institution investigating another Nigerian government institution of such serious human rights abuses over an independent investigation carried out by international media. In 2017, Beth Ellen Cole of the US Department of State and US Counterterrorism Assistance to Nigeria quoted several abuses. Others such as Amnesty International and the Carnegie Foundation have also reported on said abuses. In addition, it is well within the known behaviour of the Nigerian military to engage in abuses of civilians in its operations. We are therefore inclined to agree with the plethora of sources and disagree with this NHRC declaration.