General Christopher Musa Refutes Allegations of Military Involvement in Abortions.

On January 24, 2025, General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria, publicly dismissed allegations regarding the military’s involvement in the forced abortion of pregnancies among women impregnated by Boko Haram insurgents. These claims, which originated from a Reuters report in February 2022, suggested that the Nigerian military had executed a covert abortion program as part of its counter-insurgency efforts, allegedly terminating at least 10,000 pregnancies.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, General Musa characterized these allegations as unfounded and a product of a smear campaign orchestrated by certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with questionable motives. He expressed his dismay at the accusations, recalling his tenure as the theatre commander when the allegations first surfaced. “Whenever we are succeeding, they throw this at us to make us look bad,” he stated, emphasizing the detrimental impact such claims have on military morale.

General Musa highlighted that an independent panel constituted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had thoroughly investigated the allegations for over a year, ultimately finding no evidence to support the claims against the military. He affirmed that the military had provided the panel with unrestricted access during the investigation, which included his own testimony in January 2023.

In light of the findings, General Musa called for a public apology from those who propagated these allegations and indicated that the military had approached the Attorney General to explore legal action against the accusers. He also questioned the silence of international organizations and local NGOs regarding these claims, suggesting that if such actions had indeed occurred over the past decade, their inaction raises serious concerns about complicity.

In conclusion, General Musa’s statements underscore a commitment to transparency and accountability within the military, while also challenging the narratives that seek to undermine its efforts in combating insurgency in Northern Nigeria.