Boko Haram: International Criminal Court Calls For War Crimes Enquiry On Nigeria

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has called for a formal inquiry to begin into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Nigeria.

It follows a decade-long investigation into violence in the north-east involving Boko Haram militants.

Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said the vast majority of crimes were by “non-state actors”, but that the Nigerian Security Forces also needed investigating.

The conflict has killed over 30,000 and displaced more than two million people.

The ICC’s preliminary examination, which itself began in 2010, has now concluded that the “criteria for opening an investigation into the situation in Nigeria have been met”.

Amnesty International welcomed the “milestone decision” that would bring its “call for justice for victims one step closer”.