Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday accused Nigerian officials of sexually exploiting women and girls living in camps for victims of Boko Haram in the North East.
HRW said it had in July documented 43 cases of women and girls in seven internally displaced persons’ camps in Maiduguri, the epicentre of the seven-year insurgency, who had been abused by camp leaders, vigilante groups, policemen, and soldiers.
“It is bad enough that these women and girls are not getting much-needed support for the horrific trauma they suffered at the hands of Boko Haram,” said Mausi Segun, senior Nigeria researcher at HRW.
“It is disgraceful and outrageous that people who should protect these women and girls are attacking and abusing them,” he added.
Government officials were not immediately available for comment on the allegations.
Four of the victims told HRW they were drugged and raped, while 37 were coerced into sex through false marriage promises and material and financial assistance.
“Many of those coerced into sex said they were abandoned if they became pregnant. They and their children have suffered discrimination, abuse, and stigmatisation from other camp residents,” the global rights body said.
HRW spoke to one 17-year-old girl who was raped and made pregnant by a policeman.
“One day he demanded to have sex with me,” she said. “I refused but he forced me. It happened just that one time, but soon I realised I was pregnant.
“When I informed him about my condition, he threatened to shoot and kill me if I told anyone else. So I was too afraid to report him.”
HRW said irregular supplies of food, clothing, medicine, and other essentials in camps were making the women vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
“In some cases, men used their positions of authority and gifts of desperately needed food or other items to have sex with women,” it said.
Boko Haram has devastated northeast Nigeria in its quest to create an Islamist state, killing over 20,000 people and displacing 2.6 million from their homes.
Since taking up arms against the Nigerian government in 2009, the jihadists have disrupted trade routes and farms.
Now nearly 50,000 children are facing death by starvation if they don’t get food and almost 250,000 more are severely malnourished in Borno state, according to UNICEF. –
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday instructed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim, and governors of affected states to immediately commence investigations into the cases of sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls in Internally Displaced Persons Camps as contained in a report by the Human Rights Watch.
Buhari’s directive was contained in a statement made available to journalists by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
According to the statement, Buhari will wait for the outcome of the investigation before deciding his next line of action on the matter.
The presidential spokesman said the President was “worried and shocked” by the report of the HRW.
He said, “The welfare of these most vulnerable of Nigerian citizens has been a priority of his government.
“Nigerians and the international community can rest assured that the allegations raised in the HRW are not being taken lightly.
“President Buhari has instructed the Inspector General of Police and the state governors of the affected states to immediately commence investigations into the issue.
“Their findings will determine the next course of action for the government and define an appropriate response.
“While the Nigerian military continues to work hard so that these unfortunate victims of Boko Haram terrorism can soon return safely to their homes, the government will do its best to ensure their protection and welfare in the temporary IDP camps.”
