A new report by Amnesty International shows that girls and young women who escaped Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria continue to face severe hardships, including unlawful military detention and insufficient support as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
The report, entitled: “Help us build our lives: Women survived Boko Haram and military abuse in north-east Nigeria,” details the harrowing experiences of many girls and young women who suffered human trafficking, kidnapping, forced marriages, slavery, and sexual abuse at the hands of Boko Haram.
Amnesty International said that after escaping Boko Haram, many of these women faced further abuse and long-term security issues under Nigerian military detention, which was often conducted unlawfully.
In interviews conducted with nearly 50 women and young girls, Amnesty International found that they had risked their lives and those of their children to escape Boko Haram.
Their journeys to freedom often involved perilous treks lasting up to 12 days, during which they survived on minimal food and water.
,”Currently, these women and girls reside in refugee camps or communities across Borno and Adamawa states, where they continue to face neglect and abuse. Amnesty International’s findings indicate a desperate need for governmental support to help these survivors rebuild their lives.
,”Amnesty International calls on the Nigerian government to provide meaningful assistance to these women, offering alternatives to forced marriages with Boko Haram members and ensuring the support necessary for them to reconstruct their lives.”
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