The new report from Amnesty International has revealed that many women and young girls who escaped Boko Haram in Nigeria’s northeast were unlawfully detained and mistreated in military facilities.
Some were held with their children for extended periods due to their connections with the extremists.
The report, based on 126 interviews with survivors over 14 years, highlights ongoing human rights concerns regarding the Nigerian military, including extrajudicial killings and illegal arrests in the lengthy conflict.
Despite this, the report mentioned that the practice of prolonged and illegal detentions has become less common in recent years.
The conflict has extended beyond borders, resulting in the deaths of over 35,000 individuals and displacing more than 2 million.
Women and young girls frequently face forced marriages and sexual abuse while in captivity.
“Some said soldiers insulted them, calling them ‘Boko Haram wives’ and accusing them of being responsible for killings.
“Several described beatings or abysmal conditions in detention, which amount to torture or other ill treatment,” the report said.
The Amnesty International’s regional director for West and Central Africa, Samira Daoud, urged Nigerian authorities to support the girls and young women as they fully reintegrate into society.
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