Maiduguri-Amnesty International said today that no fewer than 10,000 people have died in military custody since the Boko Haram conflict in the North-east started

The human rights organisation also accused Boko Haram and the military of many abuses, saying military personnel violated rules of engagement while carrying out their assignments in the region

The organisation’s Country Director, Mr Isa Sanusi, who disclosed this at a briefing in Maiduguri, however, regretted how the military denied the involvement of its personnel in atrocity after being served with the Amnesty’s report before it was made public.

However, efforts to get the reaction of defence headquarters to the allegation last night proved abortive, as defence spokesman could not be reached on phone.

Sanusi, who also announced that the human rights body had already filed a case before the International Court of Justice, ICJ, at Hague over alleged crime against humanity in the North-east, equally unveiled a 144-page report, titled “Help us build our lives,” Girls Survivors of Boko Haram and Military Abuses in the North-east Nigeria,”

Amnesty International said Boko Haram had killed thousands of civilians during attacks on government-controlled towns and villages and carried out widespread abductions, especially of girls, boys and younger women

Attacks on schools, teachers and students, including their abduction, have been committed so as to prevent people, especially children, from receiving what Boko Haram considers a ‘Western’ education.

“Boko Haram is generally translated from Hausa as ‘Western education is forbidden. Boko Haram has committed war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, including murder; attacks on civilians and civilian objects; indiscriminate attacks; disproportionate attacks; torture; cruel treatment; conscription (including through abductions) and use of child soldiers under the age of 15; attacks on buildings dedicated to education,” the report said.

The body said it had in 2015 found that Boko Haram had an organisational policy to attack civilian population, adding that these attacks were systematic and widespread

“Consequently, in a series of reports since 2015, Amnesty International has concluded that Boko Haram members should also be investigated for the crimes against humanity of murder; enslavement; imprisonment; torture; rape; sexual slavery; sexual violence; persecution; and forced marriage as “other inhumane acts,” the report said.

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