The Nigerian military has strongly rejected allegations made by Amnesty International that over 10,000 civilians have died in military detention camps since the beginning of the Boko Haram insurgency.
In a statement released sent to Africa Health Report on Friday, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, condemned the claims as “spurious” and “mischievous.”
The allegations were first presented by Amnesty International during a press conference on December 5, where the organisation accused the Nigerian military of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians detained in the Northeast.
“The Armed Forces views these pronouncements as shocking, lacking merit, and mischievous,” said Gen. Buba, adding that the timing of the allegations was particularly concerning as the counterterrorism efforts in the region approach their conclusion.
The Nigerian military has reiterated its adherence to international humanitarian law in conducting operations. “The Nigerian military is a professional force that operates within the laws of armed conflict and international humanitarian law,” Buba stated.
He stressed that, despite the complex operational environment, troops have made significant efforts to avoid civilian casualties. “Whenever arrests are made, suspects are carefully profiled and handed over to the relevant authorities for release or prosecution,” he added.
The military also pointed out that standing court martials exist within operational areas to address any misconduct. “We have measures in place to ensure that any personnel found guilty of unethical conduct is immediately brought to justice,” Buba said.
The Defence Headquarters has called on Amnesty International to provide concrete evidence to support its claims, so that the military can conduct a thorough inquiry to verify the allegations. “We invite Amnesty International to substantiate the details of their claims to allow for a proper investigation,” Buba added.
