Civil Society Integrity Forum (CSIF), an NGO, on Thursday criticised the UN call for the termination of babies conceived by women who are victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

Speaking for the forum at a news conference in Abuja, Mrs Angela Odah, described UN’s call for abortion as a move to the legalisation of abortion in the country.

She said the babies had equal right to life like every other Nigerians, saying that the constitution protects them as well.

Said Mrs Odah: "We in this forum are very saddened by the call of the United Nations on the Nigerian government and people to grant compassionate abortion to the pregnant women and girls.

"We wish to state that indeed the women and girls have endured extreme dehumanisation, torture, violence and trauma should not be subjected to more hardship.

"Abortion is the deliberate act of killing an unborn baby in the womb of his or her mother.

"All of us began as innocent, hopeless babies within the serenity and safety of our mothers’ wombs."

The activist stated that if a drunken man impregnated a woman does not mean that the baby so conceived will grow up to become an alcoholic.

"How can we be cajoled to death sentence on the innocent Nigerian babies simply because their fathers are religious fundamentalists? Some of the perpetrators may have been forced into the terror trade through intimidation, radicalisation, peer pressure, poverty and hopelessness,’’ she said.

Mrs Odah further stated that abortion could lead to breast cancer which the whole world needed to know, adding: "We are supposed to support the victims and families.’’

She added that UN was supposed to uphold human rights, equity and justice, and not in the forefront of a campaign as such which would rather add more pains to the victims.

According to her, "It is our position that the girls are already traumatised and do not deserve additional trauma in the form of abortion. We should rather support and show them love.

"Nigeria needs to end the cycle of violence and killings that is why we are calling on all to join hands in fighting this collectively.

"The circumstance of their conception does not make them less human than we are and the constitution protects their lives.’’

The activist called on the government and people of Nigeria not to be swayed by the comments made by the UN Rights Chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein on the victims.

She equally appealed to families of the victims and all Nigerians to join hands to perfect the lives of these innocent victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

The news conference was attended by Dr Augustine Ategbole of Prolife Profamily Initiative; Mrs Christie Uche, Foundation for Family Values and Health Orientation, and Dr Emmanuel Okechukwu, Action Family Foundation. (NAN)

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