Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian military of causing the deaths of at least 10,000 individuals in its custody since the onset of the Boko Haram conflict in the northeast.
During a briefing in Maiduguri, the organization’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, condemned both Boko Haram and the Nigerian military for committing widespread human rights abuses in the region.
He stated that military personnel had violated rules of engagement while carrying out their duties in the conflict zone.
Sanusi also criticized the military for denying its involvement in various atrocities, despite receiving Amnesty’s report before its public release.
Amnesty International has taken legal action, filing a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing the military of crimes against humanity in the northeast.
Sanusi introduced a new 144-page report titled “Help Us Build Our Lives,” which focuses on the abuses faced by young girls who survived Boko Haram and military violence.
The report highlights attacks on schools, teachers, and students, particularly targeting those pursuing what Boko Haram refers to as a “Western” education.
The report details numerous war crimes committed by both Boko Haram and the Nigerian military.
Boko Haram is accused of murder, attacks on civilians, abductions, and the use of child soldiers, while the military is accused of committing war crimes, including extrajudicial executions, torture, and sexual violence.
Amnesty International also noted that the military has treated individuals from areas controlled by Boko Haram as suspects, subjecting them to harsh treatment and often detaining them arbitrarily.
The organization pointed out that the Nigerian authorities have made some improvements in recent years, such as reducing the frequency of arbitrary detentions of women and children, but criticized the government for failing to investigate or prosecute those responsible for international crimes.
The report emphasized the devastation caused by Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria, where the group has indiscriminately targeted civilians while treating anyone in government-controlled areas as an enemy.
