The global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International (AI), stated Boko Haram had killed at least 3,500 people since the beginning of 2015.
As stated by the group, despite advances by the military, attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger had claimed the lives of at least 1,600 people since the start of June.
A statement today by AI stated the United Nations Human Rights Council was discussing a report on the conflict.
“The number of people killed so far this year is truly shocking with more than 3,500 civilian fatalities in less than 300 days,” said Amnesty International’s Africa Director for Research and Advocacy, Netsanet Belay.
“Governments in affected countries must take all necessary legal measures to ensure the security of civilians in affected areas,” the statement added.
As the UNHRC discusses violations and abuses allegedly committed in the course of the conflict, AI renewed its calls for adequate protection of civilians from Boko Haram attacks.
The group also called for urgent and thorough investigations of serious human rights violations allegedly committed by the security forces, insisting that the Federal Government had yet to investigate incidences of alleged human rights violations by the military.
“Following the publication of an Amnesty International report on June 3, President Muhammadu Buhari pledged to investigate evidence that Nigerian military forces have committed serious human rights violations, war crimes and acts which may constitute crimes against humanity. To date, no investigation has begun.
“It is nearly four months to the day since President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to investigate the serious crimes under international law which Amnesty International highlighted in its report,” Belay stated, adding that thousands of victims were still waiting for justice.