According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Nigerian authorities to look into claims of widespread and forced abortions allegedly carried out by its army.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that the Nigerian Army has operated an unlawful, systematic, and covert abortion program in the northeast of the nation at least since 2013.
According to thousands of witness reports and documents seen, the operation purportedly involved ending at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls, many of whom had been abducted and raped by Boko Haram.
“The Secretary-General takes note with concern of the allegations of widespread and coercive abortions allegedly committed by the Nigerian Army against women and girls who had already been harmed by Boko Haram.”
If further action was required, he urged a thorough inquiry as well as “rapid remedial actions and accountability measures.”
“We call on the Nigerian authorities to fully investigate these allegations and make sure there’s accountability,” Dujarric told reporters later on Friday.
A US State Department spokesperson said the Biden administration was “deeply troubled.”
“Our embassy in Abuja is seeking further information, including from the government of Nigeria and stakeholders working in this space,” the spokesperson said. “We have encouraged the government of Nigeria to take the allegations seriously and to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation, and we will continue to do so.”
The military will not look into the report, according to Nigeria’s defense commander, who claimed it was untrue. The Nigerian administration has not publicly reacted to the tale.
According to , Lai Mohammed, the minister of information, could not be reached for comment on the UN’s request for an investigation.
