Boko Haram murdered captive women, UN official says

OCt.
31, 2014: Photo of members of Nigeria's Islamic extremist group Boko
Haram, Islamic extremists from Nigeria attacked a border town inside
Niger, marking the 2nd foreign country attacked by the group in several
days. (AP)

BERLIN –  The U.N.'s human rights
chief said Wednesday his office has received reports that Boko Haram
fighters retreating from advancing military forces in Nigeria murdered
women and girls they had taken as "wives," along with other captives.



The recapture of parts of northeastern Nigeria in recent weeks "has
brought to light gruesome scenes of mass graves and further evident
signs of slaughter by Boko Haram," Zeid Raad al-Hussein told a special
session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.



Zeid gave no further details of what he said were multiple reports of
fighters killing "their so-called 'wives' — in fact, women and girls
held in slavery — and other captives." Boko Haram's reported use of
children as "expendable cannon fodder" and human bombs would, if
confirmed, constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, he said.



Zeid said there also are "persistent and credible reports" of serious
rights violations by Nigerian and other security forces responding to
Boko Haram. He called for "thorough and fully transparent
investigations" by authorities.



The Islamic extremist militants have terrorized northern Nigeria and
also attacked towns in neighboring countries, prompting nations in the
region including Chad and Niger to put together a force to combat them.



Zeid said he is "profoundly concerned about the growing ethnic and sectarian dimensions of the conflict."



Boko Haram's original leader was from the Kanuri ethnic group, and
the U.N. human rights office has received reports "indicating that
Kanuris are now considered suspect by some military personnel,"
resulting in arbitrary arrests and abuse, Zeid said.



Boko Haram, meanwhile, has begun targeting Nigerians of Shuwa Arab
origin "apparently in retaliation for their perceived support to the
Nigerian armed forces," he said.



"There is thus a high risk of escalating ethnic and religious
violence," Zeid said. "This can only be halted by principled leadership
and clear instructions to military personnel, with appropriate
accountability."