A recent report has accused the Nigerian military of raiding over 300 Igbo communities in the South-East under the pretext of hunting down members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The raids, which allegedly involved widespread destruction and displacement, were detailed in a publication by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety).
The report, titled “Nigeria: Ocean of Innocent Blood Flowing in the East” and “Human Rights Made in Nigeria,” alleges that the military, along with other security forces, burned down over 6,000 homes and displaced at least 180,000 residents. It further accuses the authorities of conducting secret arrests and trials in seven states, including Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja). Some detainees were reportedly subjected to extrajudicial punishments at the Wawa Army Cantonment in Niger State.
The report paints a grim picture of the situation, stating, “The ‘Ocean of Innocent Blood Flowing in the East’ represents a graphic and chilling account of the siege and terror imposed by the Nigerian military and other security forces on the region since August 2015.” It highlights atrocities such as mass killings, property destruction, abductions, torture, and extortion.
Human Rights Violations Documented
The companion report, “Human Rights Made in Nigeria,” compiles local and international legal provisions regulating the conduct of armed state and non-state actors. It alleges that external and internal forces, including current and former public officials, have exacerbated the crisis in the South-East and South-South regions.
The reports document crimes by state actors, such as extrajudicial killings and property destruction, as well as crimes by non-state actors, including armed criminal groups. According to the findings, the Nigerian military and other security agencies have killed over 32,300 unarmed civilians since 2015, while criminal groups have reportedly killed 14,500.
Devastating Impact on Communities
The military operations have reportedly left over 1 million people homeless, with properties worth N450 billion destroyed. The report also alleges that security personnel extorted over N3 trillion from civilians at roadblocks and other checkpoints, a figure significantly higher than the N550 billion allegedly looted by criminal groups.
The report criticizes the military for using IPOB/ESN terrorism as a justification for what it describes as widespread human rights abuses, including the massacre of unarmed civilians. It also highlights the economic toll of these operations, which have devastated communities and displaced tens of thousands.
Call for Accountability
The reports, authored by Emeka Umeagbalasi, a criminologist and chairman of Intersociety, alongside a team of lawyers, urge both national and international bodies to investigate and address the violations. The authors include Chidinma Udegbunam, Chinwe Umeche, Obianuju Igboeli, and Ndidiamaka Bernard.
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