Released Girls from Boko Haram in Nigeria Face Potential Detention and Harassment by Military, Reveals Amnesty Study
Though detention in the military has reduced, the issue of mistreatment against women still persists, according to a report released on Monday.
Titled "Rescuing Lives: Girl Survivors of Boko Haram and Military Abuses in Northeast Nigeria," the report explores how girls and young women in the region have been subjected to various forms of abuse by Boko Haram.
Girls recounted how they were kidnapped, forced into marriages, and endured sexual violence by the militants. One survivor recalled giving birth to children fathered by Boko Haram fighters while still being a minor herself, while another narrated witnessing the execution of women who had taken contraceptive pills.
The report is based on 126 interviews with women and girls aged 12-48 years, including 82 who survived being abused while underage. These interviews were conducted between 2019 and 2024 in northeast Nigeria.
Amnesty International has reached out to several international partners about these findings, urging the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes committed by all parties during the conflict in the northeast.
About 50 girls and young women escaped from Boko Haram and made their way to government-controlled areas, risking their lives and those of their children in the process. However, their already traumatic experiences were worsened by the harsh conditions they faced when they were freed.
Samira Daoud, the regional director for West and Central Africa at Amnesty International, said, "These girls, many of whom are now young women, had their childhoods stolen from them and suffered a series of war crimes and human rights abuses. Despite their previous ordeal, they show tremendous courage and determination as they strive to shape their futures."
Forced Marriages
Among the 126 women interviewed, 31 described being illegally detained by the military between 2015 and mid-2023 for durations ranging from a few days to over four years, accused of supporting Boko Haram.
They reported suffering humiliation from soldiers who labeled them "wives of Boko Haram" and accused them of being responsible for the killings perpetrated by the terrorist group.
One young woman, identified as NV in the report, had escaped from Boko Haram at age 20 in 2021. She was held for two months at a military base in Madagali, Adamawa State.
"When they brought food, they gave us a portion in our hand and soup in one bowl for all of us to share," NV recalled. "As a toilet, they gave us a plastic bag."
Another woman, known as GN in the report, was detained after soldiers raided the Boko Haram camp where she was held captive. Following her capture, she was taken to a displaced persons' camp and later remarried.
GN later received a call from her former "husband" demanding she return, which led to her arrest. She was detained for a month in Bama Prison in late 2021 and beaten with a cane for three days before being transferred to Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri. GN was held there for around a year, during which she gave birth.
Upon her release, her former "husband" sued her and her new husband in a sharia court, ordering them to pay him money, the report added.
Amnesty International shared these findings with Nigerian federal and state officials.
The Nigerian military denied all accusations, claiming to respect human rights during its operations and dismissing Amnesty's sources, mostly survivors of abuse, as unreliable in a letter dated 22 April 2024.
"The NA [Nigerian Army] once again emphasizes its upholding of human rights... The NA will not be rushed into action based on evidence aimed at inciting public opinion," the letter said.
CNN has contacted the Nigerian Army and the Borno State authorities for their response to these allegations.
The Borno State government, part of an initiative to rehabilitate Boko Haram defectors and their families, pledged that these individuals would not face prosecution, but would be allowed to stay with their families, including their "wives," according to the report.
"Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum assured that Boko Haram fighters would not be handed to the military and would be provided with services and permitted to stay with their families, including their 'wives,'" the report said.
When asked about the screening process conducted by the military or government authorities after survivors left Boko Haram, none of the interviewees reported being asked if they had married or joined Boko Haram willingly, according to the report. This oversight makes it even more challenging for women and girls to receive the support they deserve.
For over a decade, the violent extremist group Boko Haram has been responsible for an insurgency that has claimed the lives of more than 35,000 individuals and displaced approximately two million people in Nigeria's northeastern region, as per the United Nations.
This militant organization has employed terrifying tactics like suicide bombings, kidnappings, torture, rape, forced marriages, and even child soldier recruitment in order to terrorize the country's northeast.
One of the most heinous acts of Boko Haram was their abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014. Nearly 300 students were snatched from their school in Chibok, Borno State. This shocking incident brought widespread global condemnation and brought attention to the horrific tactics of this insurgent group.
Since then, more girls have been abducted, with the majority forced into marriages. The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect reports that Boko Haram engages in child and forced marriages.
A number of these girls recounted their horrific experiences in a report by Amnesty International, detailing the physical and mental torture they endured. One girl referred to as GH, who was kept captive for approximately ten years, spoke of being forced to witness brutal punishments, stating, "Sometimes I dream about the corpses that I saw or the stoning of the women that I saw. Once I open my eyes, I can't go back to sleep again."
Sadly, many girls and women who were kidnapped by Boko Haram also witnessed the murder of their loved ones. For instance, a young woman identified as CB in the report was abducted when she was around 13 years old in 2014. She recalled, "One day, Boko Haram ... came into our house. They told our father we were non-believers. They shot my father in the back of his head, and the bullet came through his eyes. We started crying. They said if we don't keep quiet, they will kill my mother too."
Furthermore, girls were subjected to sexual slavery and forced domestic labor as "wives" by Boko Haram militants. At least 33 survivors revealed to Amnesty they were raped by the men they were forced into marrying.
One teenager named HA in the Amnesty report shared her story, saying she agreed to marry a Boko Haram militant to spare her father's life. Unfortunately, she was frequently raped and beaten throughout her "marriage," with other Boko Haram fighters assisting her husband in his violent acts.
The long-term consequences for these girls and women include health problems, limited access to education, and social stigma from both their loved ones and their community.
The women and girls interviewed by Amnesty are requesting assistance and support to begin rebuilding their lives. Amnesty stresses the importance of listening to their voices and ensuring their active and meaningful engagement in the process. They plead, "Help us rebuild our lives."
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Despite Amnesty International's findings of women detained and mistreated by the military, the Nigerian military continues to deny these allegations and claims to uphold human rights during its operations. However, these actions contrast with the pledge made by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, who assured that Boko Haram defectors and their families, including their "wives," would not be prosecuted and would be allowed to stay with their families. Moreover, Africa as a whole has been affected by the terrorism of Boko Haram, with the group responsible for countless human rights abuses, including forced marriages, sexual violence, and the abduction of thousands of girls, such as the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014.
