International Humanitarian Law and the Protection of Medical Personnel in Nigeria’s Conflict Zones

This study examines the protection of medical personnel under international humanitarian law (IHL) in Nigeria's active conflict zones, particularly the North East, where healthcare workers and facilities have repeatedly been targeted by armed groups. Under the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, medical personnel, units, and transports enjoy special protected status and must not be deliberately attacked or obstructed in the performance of their humanitarian functions. The research employs a descriptive case-study methodology, drawing on reports from the WHO, Médecins Sans Frontières, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and UN bodies to document attacks on healthcare in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States and evaluate Nigeria's legal response. The paper analyses the obligations of the Nigerian state and non-state armed groups under Common Article 3 and Additional Protocol II, as well as the UN Security Council Resolution 2286 (2016) on attacks against medical personnel in armed conflict. It examines the institutional mechanisms within the Nigerian military for investigating and prosecuting IHL violations by its own forces and evaluates their effectiveness. Findings reveal a pattern of inadequate investigation and no successful prosecution for deliberate attacks on medical facilities, contributing to a culture of impunity. The study also evaluates gaps in IHL training for armed forces personnel and armed non-state actors. Recommendations include mandatory IHL training for military commanders, enhanced monitoring by the ICRC, and criminal accountability measures for perpetrators of attacks against health workers. Keywords: medical personnel, IHL, healthcare attacks, North East Nigeria, Geneva Conventions.