Insecurity: 10, 000 Died In Nigerian Military Custody — Amnesty Int’l Alleges

Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian military of being responsible for the deaths of at least 10,000 individuals in custody since the start of the Boko Haram conflict in the northeast. During a briefing in Maiduguri, Amnesty’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, highlighted this claim, accusing both Boko Haram and the military of committing various human rights violations.

Sanusi stated that military forces had violated their rules of engagement while carrying out operations in the region and criticized the military for denying its involvement in reported atrocities, despite receiving Amnesty’s report prior to its public release. In response to the alleged crimes, Amnesty has taken legal action, filing a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

Amnesty also released a 144-page report titled “Help Us Build Our Lives,” which focuses on the abuses faced by girls who survived Boko Haram and military violence in the northeast. The report detailed how both Boko Haram and the military have targeted schools, teachers, and students, with Boko Haram attempting to prevent access to education by attacking educational institutions. It highlighted Boko Haram’s brutal tactics, including murder, torture, abductions, and the use of child soldiers.

Amnesty International has long argued that Boko Haram should be investigated for crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, and forced marriage. Similarly, the Nigerian military is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, such as extrajudicial executions, torture, and sexual violence, against civilians in Boko Haram-controlled areas. Amnesty’s report also concluded that the military may have implemented a policy of targeting civilian populations in a widespread and systematic manner.

While the report acknowledges some improvements by the Nigerian government, particularly in reducing arbitrary detention, Amnesty continues to criticize the government for failing to investigate and prosecute those responsible for crimes under international law. The ongoing conflict in northeast Nigeria has led to widespread devastation, with both sides failing to distinguish between combatants and civilians.