AGF Vows to Implement Report on Human Rights Violations in North-East Military Operation

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has promised to act on the findings of a special panel that investigated human rights violations by the Nigerian military in the North-East. Speaking at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, he announced the immediate formation of an implementation committee to review the report and ensure its recommendations are carried out.

According to Fagbemi, the government is committed to justice and will take appropriate action in line with the law. The report, presented by the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations (SIIP North-East), was commissioned by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) after a Reuters investigation in 2022 alleged military abuses in the region.

Key Findings and Recommendations

The panel, led by retired Supreme Court Justice Abdu Aboki, investigated claims that the military carried out mass abortions of pregnancies resulting from Boko Haram sexual violence. While the panel cleared the military of these specific allegations, it found evidence of mass infanticide and other killings in Borno State’s Marte Local Government Area in 2016.

To address these findings, the panel recommended:

• Compensation for victims within 90 days, with the NHRC determining the amounts within 30 days.
• A court martial to prosecute officers, particularly those from the Defunct 8 Task Force Division, Monguno, who were involved in the 2016 killings.
• Referral of both serving and retired officers implicated in the violence to the AGF for prosecution.

NHRC Calls for Collaboration

NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu emphasized the need for cooperation with the Ministry of Justice to ensure the report’s recommendations are implemented. The NHRC has already taken steps, including a visit to Maiduguri and organizing a Civil-Military Forum in December 2024, to discuss practical measures for enforcement.

Ojukwu highlighted the report’s local and international importance. Domestically, it reinforces the NHRC’s independence and oversight role over security agencies. Globally, it demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to addressing human rights violations in line with international legal standards.

What Happens Next?

After nearly two years of investigations and testimonies from 199 witnesses, including military and civilian sources, the SIIP North-East panel has provided a roadmap for justice. The ball is now in the government’s court to ensure accountability and prevent future violations.

As the AGF moves forward with implementation, the outcome of this process will be closely watched both in Nigeria and internationally.