By Girls and young women who have been freed from the clutches of Boko Haram terrorists in northeast Nigeria continue to face severe hardships, including unlawful military detention, neglect, and inadequate support to rebuild their lives, according to a damning new report by Amnesty International.
The report, titled “Help us build our lives: Girl Survivors of Boko Haram and Military Abuses in Northeast Nigeria,” was released on Monday and delves into the harrowing experiences of girls and young women who were abducted, forced into marriage, and subjected to sexual violence by Boko Haram. The findings are based on 126 interviews conducted between 2019 and 2024 with women and girls aged 12 to 48, including 82 who survived abuse as children.
Survivors recounted the atrocities carried out by Boko Haram, including being forced to give birth to children fathered by the group’s fighters, often while they were still minors themselves. One young woman even witnessed Boko Haram members executing women who had taken contraceptive pills.
However, the nightmare did not end for these girls and young women once they escaped Boko Haram and found their way to government-held territory. Nearly 50 of those interviewed by Amnesty researchers revealed that they faced further hardship and mistreatment at the hands of the Nigerian military.
Thirty-one girls and young women described being unlawfully imprisoned by the military between 2015 and mid-2023 for periods ranging from a few days to over four years, accused of having allegiances with Boko Haram. They were humiliated by soldiers who called them “wives of Boko Haram,” accused them of being behind killings carried out by the terror group, and subjected them to beatings while in detention.
The report also highlights the failure of the Nigerian authorities to properly screen and identify victims of forced marriage or trafficking among those who have escaped Boko Haram, making it even harder for these women and girls to access the support they are entitled to.
Amnesty International has communicated its findings to Nigerian federal and state authorities, urging them to take action to address these grave human rights violations. The organization has also contacted several global partners, including the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, calling for an investigation into the crimes committed by all parties during the conflict in northeast Nigeria.
As Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s regional director for West and Central Africa, stated, “These girls, many of whom are now young women, had their childhood stolen from them and suffered a litany of war crimes and other human rights abuses. They are now showing remarkable bravery as they seek to take control of their future.”
The survivors’ message is clear: “Help us rebuild our lives.” It is time for the Nigerian authorities and the international community to listen and take urgent action to support these brave women and girls in their quest for justice and a better future.
Credit: CNN
