Counter-Insurgency Measures and Enforced Disappearance in Nigeria: Boko Haram Perspective

Abstract

Boko Haram has threatened the peace and wellbeing of the nation especially in the North-Eastern parts of Nigeria. The Federal Government initiated counterinsurgency measures involving the National Security Agencies with the sole mandate of restoring law and order. However, the security agencies in their counterinsurgency measures against the Boko Haram insurgency have committed series of human rights violations against the citizens. One of the serious human rights violated by the security agencies against the citizens is the right against enforced disappearance. The aim of this paper, is to examine the extent to which the security agencies engaged in violating citizens’ right against enforced disappearance, and whether the perpetrators are held accountable for such human right violation. To achieve this, the research adopted doctrinal methodology otherwise known as theoretical. The findings reveal that the security agencies have engaged in violating citizens’ right against enforced disappearance and no perpetrator was held accountable. The paper recommends that, cases of enforced disappearance be investigated and the perpetrators be brought before justice and also the Convention against Enforced Disappearance be domesticated in Nigeria.