Recently, the Nigerian military was accused of systematically conducting illegal abortion operations in the northeast region since 2013. According to the Reuters investigation, over 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls were allegedly aborted, with the program being built on the basis of deception and physical force against women who were detained in military custody for long periods. The report further revealed that women who resisted this program were brutalized and drugged into compliance and although investigations have not yet established those who spearheaded this, it was indicated that this program ran within five military facilities and five civilian hospitals across the region.
As a result of the illegal abortion program and the targeted killings of children and women by the Nigerian military, some members of the United States House of Representatives, Foreign Affairs Committee urged President Joe Biden to consider repealing a near $1 billion arms sale deal with Nigeria. Democrat, Sara Jacobs of California and Republican, Chris Smith of New Jersey, both of who are members of a subcommittee on Africa expressed major concerns over the United States’ policy on military support to Nigeria. They also endorsed the need for a security assistance and cooperation program review in Nigeria, as well as a risk assessment of casualties resulting from the arms assistance.
Assistance provided by U.S. has not been sufficient to curb insurgency.
The United States was known to have helped Nigeria with security assistance and trainings focused on the compliance with the International law. However, these lawmakers indicated that humanitarian workers have repeatedly reported Nigeria’s security forces’ lack of understanding of humanitarian law and tools for effective engagement. The Congress members noted that the provided assistance by the United States has not been totally sufficient in curbing the conflict between Nigeria’s military and Islamist insurgents in the northeast region of the country. They added that there were also reports of captured weapons by the insurgents.
In a letter sent to the United States’ President and Congress members, stated that it would be highly inappropriate for the country to proceed with the arms deal and therefore, urged the president to overturn it. However, the White House is yet to provide a comment on this recent development. The U.S. State Department in April, approved the sale of weapons and other military equipment to Nigeria, with the deal being the biggest ever offered to the country. This was after the lawmakers pushed the deal majorly due to the concerns of human rights abuses in Nigeria.
Illegal abortion in northeast Nigeria can face about 14 years imprisonment.
Importantly, this review request is the second from the Congress in recent months. After the Reuters news in December, a United States Senator and top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch demanded that the security assistance and cooperation program in Nigeria be reviewed, as well as the potential use of sanction for alleged abuses. The Idaho senator promptly indicated that he was looking forward to the department’s response to the allegations against Nigeria, which if deemed credible, would have done immense damage to a generation of Nigerian citizens.
Abortion has been deemed illegal in Nigeria, except for critical cases where the mother’s life is threatened and in the north region of the county, illegal termination of pregnancy attracts 14 years imprisonment. However, the existence of this program was blatantly denied by the Nigerian military, insisting that the Reuters investigation was a foreign move to undermine the county’s efforts at curbing the ravaging insurgency. The Nigerian army regarded the investigation as a body of insult on the Nigerian people and culture.
Nigerian military accused of slaughtering children during crisis.
Reuters in its investigation, also reported that the Nigerian security forces had indulged in slaughtering children during the crisis against Islamist extremists in the northeastern region of the country. Although the military leaders denied any this claim, the Reuters’ series, “Nightmare in Nigeria” swiftly led to urgent calls from the United States’ department of state and defense to the Nigerian government to investigate the allegations. The German foreign ministry, United Nations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also demanded due investigation. In midst of these international appeal, Nigeria’s defense ministry agreed to fully cooperate in investigating these allegations.
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US Congress to halt Nigeria’s weapon deal – Illegal abortion programme targeted killing of children in Nigeria revealed. – Express your point of view.
USA has been one of the biggest supporter of Nigeria during crisis or what have you but it is very unfortunate that the military personnel which are supposed to protect and defend the innocent people can be involving themselves in this evil act of illegal abortion and killing of the children.
Our erratic ways at which we use weapons is the reason why the US is stalling the weapon sale agreement. I just hope we can be rational in the way the military and law enforcement agencies use the weapons.
In the course of its investigation, Reuters found that the Nigerian security forces had killed children while battling Islamist radicals in the nation’s northeast.
At this period, it is good the US intend to halt the weapon deal with Nigeria. Nigerian military, who were suppose to protect us are the ones involved in killings of children and women. How much during this period of election? I won’t say more.
Since 2013, the Nigerian military has been accused of carrying out a pattern of unlawful abortions in the country’s northeast area.
In Nigeria, an abortion is punishable by up to 14 years in prison in the country’s northern area, save in extreme circumstances where the mother’s life is in danger.
It was stated that this practice was carried out in five civilian hospitals as well as five military facilities located throughout the region.
Women who opposed this program were beaten and drugged into submission. Although the individuals who were in charge of this have not been identified by investigators yet, these tactics were used.
The weapon that is meant to protect and guide us was use against us illegal abortion and killing of children which make U S halt weapon deal with us
The United States is delaying the signing of the weapon sale agreement because of our unpredictable use of force. What I really want is for the military and law police to use the weapons in a sane and effective manner.
The United States is holding up the arms sale deal because of our unpredictable use of force. Nigeria’s military and police forces urgently need change, as does the country’s system for regulating access to firearms.
It was reported that ten different facilities across the region engaged in this activity, including five civilian hospitals and five military facilities.
Due to our erratic use of force, the United States is impeding the arms deal. Both Nigeria’s police and military need urgent reform, as does the nation’s system for controlling who has access to weapons.
This occurred after the parliamentarians pushed the deal hard in large part because of worries regarding the violation of human rights in Nigeria.
The United States Department of State gave its approval in April for the sale of guns and other types of military equipment to Nigeria. This transaction is the largest one that has ever been proposed to the African nation.
We should be looking forward to the department’s reaction to the charges that have been made against Nigeria, which, if found to be true, would have caused a great deal of harm to a whole generation of citizens in Nigeria.
Unless in extreme circumstances where the mother’s life is in danger, abortion is prohibited in Nigeria, and the penalty for an unjustified termination of a pregnancy in the country’s northern area is a maximum of 14 years in jail.
If such thing as the illegal abortion programme is targeted at killing of children in Nigeria by the military is true that is terrible. More investigation should be carried out in regards to this. If such is happening as stated by the Foreign Affairs Committee that it would be highly inappropriate for the United States to proceed with the arms deal and therefore, urged the president of US to overturn it.
US Congress to halt Nigeria’s weapon deal. We need to be at alert and also let all our security
If true that illegal abortion programme is targeted at killing children in Nigeria that will be very wrong. If such is discovered them I don’t think it will be wise for the United States of America President to continue with the approval of the sale of weapon to Nigeria.