OHCHR PRESS BRIEFING NOTES - Nigeria / Boko Haram
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Ravina Shamdasani
Location: Geneva
Subjects: (1) Nigeria / Boko Haram
(1) Nigeria / Boko Haram
We deeply deplore the vicious, ruthless attacks against civilians in the northeastern Nigerian town of Baga, where Boko
Haram has reportedly been operating since 3 January. While the exact details remain unclear, what is fairly certain is
that mass killings and mass forced displacement have occurred. The deliberate targeting of civilians is clearly
prohibited by international law and we are very concerned at reports that there were children and elderly people among
the victims.
The killings at marketplaces in Maidugiri, also in Borno State, and in Potiskum, in Yobe State, are particularly
shocking given reports that girls, possibly one as young as 10, may have been forced to carry out the attack. The use of
a child to detonate a bomb is not only morally repugnant but constitutes an egregious form of child exploitation under
international law.
We urge the Government to act swiftly to restore law and order, while ensuring that security operations are conducted in
line with international law and full respect for human rights. We also urge Nigerian authorities to redouble their
efforts to create conditions for an effective investigation into the incidents, with a view to establishing the facts
surrounding the killings and holding the perpetrators accountable.
ENDS