Kehinde Fajobi
An Independent Investigative Panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) reported on Friday that it found no evidence to substantiate claims that Nigerian soldiers conducted forced and illegal abortions on women and girls in the North-East.
The seven-member panel, led by retired Supreme Court Justice Abdul Aboki, dismissed the allegations, which were initially made in a report by an international media organisation.
After an 18-month investigation, which included visits to various locations in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states and testimonies from 199 witnesses, the panel concluded, “There is no evidence that the Nigerian military conducted a secret, systematic, and illegal abortion programme in the North-East.”
The panel further noted, “There is no evidence from the field investigations and documents that the Panel considered to confirm that women and girls died in the North-East from illegal and forced abortions performed by the Nigerian military.”
However, the panel acknowledged that records from 57 medical practitioners indicated that a total of 357,693 doses of Oxytocin and Misoprostol—two pregnancy-related medications—were administered to patients across the three states between 2013 and 2022.
Despite these findings, the panel stated that no evidence linked the military to any secret abortions or the use of these medications for such purposes.
The allegations originated from a report published by Reuters in December 2022, which claimed that a covert abortion programme by the Nigerian military had resulted in the termination of at least 10,000 pregnancies in conflict-ridden regions since 2013.
Following this report, then-Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, requested the NHRC to investigate the allegations.
In its findings, the panel also reported human rights violations by the military unrelated to the abortion claims.
It held the military accountable for extrajudicial killings that took place in Abisare, Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, in June 2016.
The panel recommended that the Nigerian government compensate the victims’ families within 90 days and advised the NHRC to create a compensation plan within 30 days of receiving the report.
The report further urged the military to “constitute a Court Martial to prosecute suspected officers and men of the Defunct 8 Task Force Division, Monguno, who were operational in Abisare, Marte Local Government of Borno State, in June 2016, or other units of the Nigerian Armed Forces who were operational at the location within the same period.”
It also recommended that retired officers found culpable should face prosecution by the Attorney General of the Federation.
The panel highlighted the need for increased transparency in prosecuting terrorism suspects. It recommended that the Nigerian Armed Forces publish statistics on detainees, their legal statuses, and case outcomes regularly.
It also called for independent monitoring mechanisms to prevent abuses and ensure detainee rights.
To support human rights within military operations, the panel urged the establishment of a dedicated human rights unit within six months.
“This Unit will be responsible for providing training, guidance, and oversight on human rights issues. It should be staffed with experts in international human rights law, military ethics, and conflict resolution,” the report advised.
Accepting the report, NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu, SAN, stated that it would be forwarded to the relevant authorities for the implementation of the recommendations.