Nigerian rights fee to probe military over alleged abortions | Armed Teams Information

Reuters reported in December that the navy ran a secret abortion programme in its battle in opposition to Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria.

Nigeria’s human rights fee has appointed a particular panel whose function will embody investigating a Reuters report that the navy ran a secret abortion programme in its battle in opposition to armed teams within the northeast.

The Nationwide Human Rights Fee (NHRC), which is appointed by the federal government, mentioned in a press release posted on its web site on Tuesday that it could launch the particular panel subsequent week in Abuja.

“The Nationwide Human Rights Fee will on Tuesday (seventh February 2023) inaugurate a Particular Impartial Investigative Panel on human rights violations within the implementation of counterinsurgency operations within the northeast,” NHRC mentioned.

“The panel will, amongst different issues, give attention to investigating Reuters report which alleged that Nigerian Army was concerned in abortion of many pregnancies within the North East within the final 10 years,” NHRC mentioned.

The seven-member panel might be chaired by retired Supreme Courtroom Choose Abdu Aboki and features a retired main normal, a consultant from the Nigerian Bar Affiliation and an professional in obstetrics and gynaecology, NHRC mentioned.

It was not instantly clear how lengthy the investigation would final and what the panel would do with its findings. NHCR has no powers to prosecute human rights violators however can suggest prosecution for offenders.

An NHRC spokesperson didn’t reply to calls and messages despatched to their cell phone in search of additional particulars.

Reuters reported in December, primarily based on dozens of witness accounts and documentation, that the navy abortion programme concerned terminating a minimum of 10,000 pregnancies amongst ladies and ladies, lots of whom had been kidnapped and raped by insurgent fighters.

The Nigerian navy mentioned it could not perform an investigation as a result of the report was not true.