NHRC Clears Army of Forced Abortions, Finds Military Culpable of Infanticide and Community Killings in Borno

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has found the Nigerian Army responsible for mass killings, including infanticide, in its counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

However, it cleared the military of alleged forced abortions, initially reported to involve the termination of approximately 10,000 pregnancies.

Following nearly two years of investigation, the NHRC’s Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in North-East counter-insurgency operations presented its findings at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

Led by retired Supreme Court Justice Abdu Adoke, the panel concluded that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate claims of a systematic forced abortion policy within the military.

“For the abortion assault, the panel did not find evidence that the Nigerian Armed Forces committed a systematic, secret, or policy-driven abortion operation in the Northeast to the tune of 10,000 abortions. There was no evidence before the panel to prove that,” said Hillary Ogbonna, Secretary of the panel, during the presentation.

However, Ogbonna confirmed that the panel’s investigation substantiated claims of military involvement in the killing of infants and community members in Abisare village, Marite Local Government Area, Borno State, on June 16, 2016.

“We received witness testimonies, including those of survivors and relations of the deceased,” Ogbonna noted.

Justice Adoke emphasised the independence of the investigative process, asserting that the panel operated without influence from any government entity.

“It is to the credit of the panel and the human rights commission that I can proudly assert an extensive investigation based on justice and fairness has been achieved,” he said.

NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu acknowledged the findings and outlined steps to ensure justice, including public consultations on the report and compensation for affected communities.

“The NHRC is committed to ensuring that citizens of the Abisari community identified in the report receive compensation and will continue to work with the military and the Office of the Attorney General to ensure justice is served,” Ojukwu stated, adding that the commission would hold a civil-military forum to discuss implementation strategies.

The investigation followed a December 2022 Reuters report alleging human rights violations by the Nigerian military, including forced abortions affecting at least 10,000 women, mainly Boko Haram captives.

The NHRC’s findings, however, concluded these abortion allegations were unsubstantiated.