A
report by Human Rights Watch, detailing alleged sexual exploitation of women
and girls in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps by Nigerian government and
security officials, has attracted anger and condemnation from groups and
individuals.
The
HRW report, which was made public in Abuja on Monday, prompted President
Muhammadu Buhari to order an investigation into the development, with a pledge
to bring those found culpable to book.
Meanwhile,
Buhari on Monday instructed that the alleged exploitation of women and girls in
the IDPs camps as contained in the HRW report, be investigated.
The
President’s directive was contained in a statement by his Senior Special
Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
According
to the statement, Buhari would wait for the outcome of the investigations
before deciding his next line of action on the matter.
The
presidential spokesman said the President was “worried and shocked” by the HRW
report.
He
said, “Nigerians and the international community can rest assured that the
allegations raised in the HRW are not being taken lightly.
“President
Buhari has instructed the Inspector-General of Police and the state governors
of the affected states to immediately commence investigations into the issue.
“Their
findings will determine the next course of action for the government and define
an appropriate response.”
The
report by HRW accused government officials as well as security officials of
raping and sexually exploiting women and girls displaced by the Boko Haram
criminal activities.
The
report accused the government of not doing enough to protect displaced women
and girls and ensuring that they had access to basic rights and services.
It
also faulted the government for not taking action against the abusers, who, it
alleged, included camp leaders, vigilance groups, policemen and soldiers.
The
HRW said in July 2016, it documented sexual abuses, including rape and
exploitation, of 43 women and girls living in seven IDPs’ camps in Maiduguri,
the Borno State capital.
It
explained that the victims were from Borno towns and villages, including
Abadam, Bama, Baga, Damasak, Dikwa, Gamboru Ngala, Gwoza, Kukawa and Walassa.
The
Senior Nigeria Researcher at the HRW, Mausi Segun, was quoted in the report as
saying, “It is bad enough that these women and girls are not getting the
much-needed support for the horrific trauma they suffered at the hands of Boko
Haram.
“It
is disgraceful and outrageous that people, who should protect these women and
girls, are attacking and abusing them.”
Four
of the victims told HRW that they were drugged and raped, while 37 were coerced
into sex through false marriage promises and material and financial assistance.
Many
of those coerced into sex said they were abandoned in case of pregnancy.
A
situational assessment of IDPs in the North-East in July, 2016, by NOI Polls, a
Nigerian research organisation, stated that 66 per cent of 400 displaced
persons in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states alleged that camp officials sexually
abused the displaced women and girls.
Women
and girls abused by members of the security forces and vigilance groups told
HRW they felt powerless and feared retaliation if they reported the abuse.
In
one heartrending narration, a 17-year-old girl said just over a year after she
fled the frequent Boko Haram attacks in Dikwa, a town, 56 miles from Maiduguri,
a policeman approached her for “friendship” in the camp, but turned around to
raped her.
She
added, “One day, he demanded to have sex with me. I refused, but he forced me.
It happened just that one time, but soon, I realised I was pregnant. When I
informed him about my condition, he threatened to shoot and kill me if I told
anyone else. So, I was too afraid to report him.”
Meanwhile,
the National Emergency Management Agency said none of its staff was indicted in
the report, adding that no NEMA official was involved in the allegations raised
by the HRW.
NEMA
stated that although it coordinated activities in the IDPs’ camps, its
officials did not reside in any of the camps.
The
Senior Information Officer at NEMA, Mr. Sani Datti, said, “The report did not
indict any of our officials.
“It
mentioned other security agencies; no NEMA official was reported to have been
involved in such act. Meanwhile, it is important to tell you that none of our
officials lives in any of the camps.
“Several
organisations are involved in the camps and we call them sectors. We coordinate
all these sectors, but we don’t live in the camps and that is why we can boldly
tell you that none of our officials is involved or indicted in the allegations
raised by that report.”
The
Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said the
military had always ensured the protection of the rights of Nigerians in all
its operations, stressing that the situation in the IDPs’ camps was not an
exception.
He
called on Human Rights Watch International to come forward with evidence of
such acts for appropriate action rather than resorting to media warfare.
He
said, “We protect the lives and human dignity of our citizens especially the
Internally Displaced Persons, who are supposed to be in a very sorry state. We
don’t condone anything as abuse of human rights, let alone the rights of IDPs.
“Just
of recent, we dismissed a soldier and jailed him for three years for molesting
a child in Maiduguri. So, if we can do that, it shows that we don’t tolerate
this kind of thing. However, as I said, we are not going to take issue with
them (HRW).
“If
there is any evidence, they should please come forward; they should not make it
a media war.
The
police spokesman, Donald Awunah, could not be reached on Monday for comment on
the alleged sexual exploitation of women in IDP camps by policemen.
He
did not return calls and SMS to his mobile.
Source:The
Punch
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