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Boko Haram Giwa barracks attack: Nigerian army 'killed hundreds' | Boko Haram Giwa barracks attack: Nigerian army 'killed hundreds' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Nigeria's army killed some 600 people after a recent attack by Boko Haram militants on a barracks, Amnesty International has said. | Nigeria's army killed some 600 people after a recent attack by Boko Haram militants on a barracks, Amnesty International has said. |
Quoting eye-witnesses, it said that after the raid in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, detainees who had escaped were rounded up and killed. | Quoting eye-witnesses, it said that after the raid in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, detainees who had escaped were rounded up and killed. |
The army has not yet commented on the allegations but has denied previous reports of abuses. | The army has not yet commented on the allegations but has denied previous reports of abuses. |
The conflict has killed some 1,500 people this year, according to Amnesty. | The conflict has killed some 1,500 people this year, according to Amnesty. |
Half of those killed were civilians, the organisation said. | Half of those killed were civilians, the organisation said. |
Hundreds of militants were said to have taken part in the 14 March attack on the Giwa barracks in Maiduguri, which BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross described as a particularly brazen assault. | |
At the time, the Nigerian military said the attack was successfully repelled and many attackers were killed by the air force and ground troops. | |
One eyewitness told Amnesty that a self-defence group known as civilian JTF captured some of the hundreds of detainees who had escaped. | |
"I saw the soldiers asking the people to lie on the ground," the witness said. | "I saw the soldiers asking the people to lie on the ground," the witness said. |
"There was a small argument between the soldiers and the civilian JTF. The soldiers made some calls and a few minutes later they started shooting the people on the ground. I counted 198 people killed at that checkpoint." | "There was a small argument between the soldiers and the civilian JTF. The soldiers made some calls and a few minutes later they started shooting the people on the ground. I counted 198 people killed at that checkpoint." |
Amnesty says satellite images have revealed three possible mass graves around the city. | Amnesty says satellite images have revealed three possible mass graves around the city. |
Captured Boko Haram suspects are often detained in Giwa barracks, and human rights groups say hundreds have died or been subjected to torture there - allegations always denied by the military. | |
Boko Haram has since released its own video of the attack on Giwa, showing crowds of people walking out of the barracks. | |
Amnesty says all parties are violating international law and wants the United Nations to help investigate potential war crimes and crimes against humanity. | |
"The scale of atrocities carried out by Boko Haram is truly shocking, creating a climate of fear and insecurity," said Amnesty's Netsanet Belay. | "The scale of atrocities carried out by Boko Haram is truly shocking, creating a climate of fear and insecurity," said Amnesty's Netsanet Belay. |
"But this cannot be used to justify the brutality of the response that is clearly being meted out by the Nigerian security forces." | "But this cannot be used to justify the brutality of the response that is clearly being meted out by the Nigerian security forces." |
The violence has forced some 250,000 people from their homes so far this year, according to the government's relief agency. | The violence has forced some 250,000 people from their homes so far this year, according to the government's relief agency. |
It said more than three million people are facing a humanitarian crisis. | It said more than three million people are facing a humanitarian crisis. |
Boko Haram was launched in Maiduguri in 2009, with the aim of setting up an Islamic state. | Boko Haram was launched in Maiduguri in 2009, with the aim of setting up an Islamic state. |
A state of emergency was declared in three north-eastern states last year to help the military crush the insurgency. | A state of emergency was declared in three north-eastern states last year to help the military crush the insurgency. |
However, the militants have stepped up attacks in recent months. | However, the militants have stepped up attacks in recent months. |