The charges against Boko Haram by ICC

The International Criminal Court,  ICC in its Preliminary Examination Report on Nigeria, said it is preparing six charges of war crimes against the insurgent group Boko Haram.

The ICC is accusing Boko Haram of killings, abductions and indiscriminate attacks on civilians in which it says over 8000 have been killed.

The charges include "attacks conducted against civilians when taking control of towns and villages as well as bomb attacks launched against civilians in civilian areas."

The report goes further to say that; “Following military operations since February 2015 during which territory previously held by Boko Haram was recaptured, mass graves or other sites with decomposed bodies were discovered allegedly containing the bodies of civilians killed by Boko Haram.

“Boko Haram reportedly also detained thousands of civilians in its camps and in towns under its control in Borno state and other undetermined areas in the north-east of Nigeria, including in the Sambisa forest,around Lake Chad, and near the Gorsi mountains in Cameroon.

“For example, in Bama town, hundreds of men were reportedly held by Boko Haram in the town’s prison for several weeks before being executed.

“Between January 2012 and October 2013, 70 teachers and more than 100 schoolchildren and students were reportedly killed or wounded.

“In May 2014, Nigeria Union of Teachers reported that at least 173 teachers had been killed between 2009 and 2014, Borno State officials have cited a slightly higher figure of 176 teachers.

“At least 50 schools were either burned down or badly damaged and 60 more were forced to close. In March 2014, the Borno State government decided to close all secondary schools in the state in order to protect students and teachers from further attacks.

“In addition, as a result of direct threats from Boko Haram, 120 schools were forced to close in10 districts of the Far North of Cameroon. Boko Haram was included as a new party on the list of the Secretary General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict (2014) for attacks against schools among other  alleged conduct.”