Boko Haram: How Soldiers Rape Girls In IDP Camps —Amnesty

“Five of us went together, all of us were raped; the soldiers took us one by one when we came out of the camp. We decided to fetch water in large groups so nobody touched us. But when we were just few, they raped us.”

The above were the words of 25-old Kale (not her real name) while talking to Amnesty International Nigeria.

According to a recent report published by Amnesty International, sexual violence involving the military and civilian militias in the camp is prevalent.

Thousands of women and girls have survived Boko Haram only to face attacks and abuse from the Nigerian security forces who claim to be rescuing them.

The military, after carrying out intensive operations to re-capture territory from Boko Haram, turn around to subject these survivors to more violence and abuse.

Women have been forced into camps and many have been raped – often in exchange for food. The “stubborn” ones 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 Amnesty International report states in part:

“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 armed group Boko Haram.

“They should have rescued hundreds of thousands of people who had been trapped in these areas. But that’s not what happened.

“Boko Haram survivors have subsequently been attacked in their villages by the military. Thousands have starved to death in displaced-persons camps.

“The security forces have separated families, taken many men and boys away, and raped women and girls,” the report stated.

Consequently, survivors of these abuses are now fighting back to expose the truth.

The report continues:

“A group of displaced women called the Knifar Movement are campaigning for justice.

“The group have collected nearly 800 names of people from their villages who died from hunger and sickness in displacement.

“They have reported sexual violence involving the military and civilian militias in the camp.

“Nigerian authorities have conducted an investigation into these acts, but they won’t release the report.

“If we put enough pressure on the authorities, we can expose these crimes and gain justice for thousands of Boko Haram survivors.”

Knifar Movement, therefore, urges the public to sign the petition in order to demand justice for survivors of attacks and abuses by Boko Haram and the Nigerian authorities.

The group consists of around 1,300 members and have been collecting a list of names people 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.

The aim is to pressure President Muhammadu Buhari to release the report as a huge step towards justice.

The movement is championed by one Esther Ikubaje, a Campaigner of Amnesty International Nigeria .

One can join the campaign by clicking on this LINK.