Women, girls who survived Boko Haram are being abused by Nigerian security forces - Amnesty International

Women, girls who survived Boko Haram are being abused by Nigerian security forces - Amnesty International

Amnesty International (AI) has stated that thousands of women and girls who were fortunate to survive Boko Haram are facing attacks and abuse from the Nigerian security forces who claim to be rescuing them.

Over the past few years, the Nigerian military has carried out intensive operations to re-capture territory that had come under the control of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Amnesty International, however, stated that instead of “freeing” hundreds of thousands of people who had been trapped in these areas, survivors have faced only more violence and abuse.

“Women have been forced into camps and many have been raped - often in exchange for food. Thousands have died of starvation. Some women find themselves more at risk of abuse because their husbands have been taken away; they were automatically suspected of being Boko Haram fighters because they were men of a certain age,” the global human rights movement stated

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The human rights body disclosed that a group of displaced women called the Knifar Movement are campaigning for justice and for their husbands to be released.

It stated: “The group of around 1,300 members have collected a list of names of almost 800 people from their villages who died from hunger and sickness in displacement, and have reported sexual violence involving the military and the civilian militias in the camp. The group submitted detailed testimony to a Presidential Investigative Panel about the violations that they faced but the report is yet to be released.”

Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigerian Army raised alarm over plans by Amnesty International to publish damaging reports about its (Army) operations.

This was also as several groups have accused the international body of plotting to destabilise the country.

In a statement by Johm Agim who is the acting director, defence information, the army promised to abide by human rights regulations.

It accused AI of planning to publish alleged cases of rape in IDP camps.

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Also, activities at the Abuja office of Amnesty International was temporarily brought to a halt as over 1000 protesters on Wednesday, May 23, stormed the office to protest what they described as ‘plot to destabilise Nigeria.’

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nurudeen Lawal avatar

Nurudeen Lawal (Head of Politics and Current Affairs Desk) Nurudeen Lawal is an AFP-certified journalist with a wealth of experience spanning over 8 years. He received his B/Arts degree in Literature-in-English from OAU. Lawal is the Head of the Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. He was named the Political Desk Head of the Year (Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award 2023). He is also a certified fact-checker (Dubawa fellowship, 2020). Contact him at lawal.nurudeen@corp.legit.ng or +2347057737768.