The report of the Particular Unbiased Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violation in Counter-Insurgency Operations in North-East Nigeria, SIIP-North-East, performed a vital function in saving Nigeria from being invited by the Worldwide Prison Court docket, ICC, to answer allegations of human rights infractions.
Govt Secretary of the Nationwide Human Proper Fee, NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, disclosed this on Friday.
The Particular Unbiased Investigative Panel was arrange by the NHRC to research experiences by Reuters, which claimed that the Nigerian navy carried out compelled abortion on hundreds of girls in Borno State and different components of the North-East as a part of the battle towards terrorism.
The Reuters report, revealed in December 2022, particularly mentioned the Nigerian navy’s abortion programme terminated at the least 10,000 pregnancies amongst ladies and women, lots of whom had been kidnapped and raped by Islamist militants.
The Reuters experiences additionally mentioned the Nigerian navy massacred ladies and kids within the North-East.
However the NHRC Particular Unbiased Investigative Panel, whereas presenting its report on November 8, 2024, mentioned after an intensive investigation, it discovered “no proof” that the Nigerian navy intentionally attacked ladies and kids or carried out secret abortions in its combat towards the Islamist insurgency within the North-East.
“There isn’t any proof to ascertain that the Nigerian navy carried out a secret abortion programme within the North-East, ending pregnancies of hundreds of girls and women free of rebel captivity,” the report mentioned.
The NHRC Particular Unbiased Investigative Panel famous that Reuters was invited to seem and clarify the way it took place its findings within the investigative report on the actions of the Nigerian navy within the North-East.
However Reuters failed to seem earlier than the panel.
The Particular Unbiased Investigative Panel famous that Reuters failure to seem earlier than it “raises doubts on the supply of the knowledge and credibility of its allegations”.
Talking whereas unveiling actions lined as much as commemorate the 2024 Worldwide Human Rights Day, Govt Secretary of the NHRC, Ojukwu famous that the Particular Unbiased Investigative Panel’s report helped to stop Nigeria’s invitation to the ICC.
“The report in query targeted on human rights violations in counter-insurgency operations within the North-East,” Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, noticed.
“The NHRC’s investigation and subsequent report demonstrated Nigeria’s dedication to investigating and addressing human rights abuses, thereby avoiding ICC intervention.”
He added, “This improvement is a major step in direction of strengthening human rights safety in Nigeria.”
In the meantime, the Home of Representatives has reaffirmed its dedication to selling human rights, with plans to cross the Human Rights Defenders Invoice into regulation.
The invoice goals to offer a framework for shielding human rights defenders and selling a tradition of human rights in Nigeria.
