Amnesty International has levied serious accusations against the Nigerian army, alleging the illegal detention of girls and young women who managed to escape from the clutches of Boko Haram. According to a report released by the organization on Monday, these individuals were detained because they were suspected of affiliating with the Islamist insurgent group.
The military has promptly responded, denying these allegations. However, Amnesty International’s claims are supported by extensive interviews conducted from 2019 to 2024. The group spoke with 126 female former captives, 31 of whom reported being unlawfully held at military barracks. The durations of these detentions varied significantly, ranging from several days to nearly four years, occurring between 2015 and mid-2023.
Amnesty’s report paints a grim picture of the situation, indicating that these detentions were typically motivated by real or perceived connections to Boko Haram. This militant group has waged a violent insurgency in Nigeria’s Northeast since the mid-2000s, leading to more than 35,000 deaths as reported by the United Nations. Boko Haram is infamous for its brutal tactics, which include torture, rape, forced marriages, and high-profile kidnappings like the abduction of 300 girls from Chibok in 2014.
Despite the infamous actions of Boko Haram, the situation for those who manage to escape from the group remains extremely difficult. Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s regional director for West and Central Africa, stated, “The Nigerian government has failed to fulfill their human rights obligations to protect and properly support these young girls and women.”
In defense of the military’s actions, Major General Edward Buba, a defense spokesperson, insisted that the Nigerian military respects human rights and complies with humanitarian law. He asserted in a statement, “Nigeria’s military operates within the boundaries of international law of armed conflict.”
The controversy arises in the context of a larger military campaign by Nigeria against Boko Haram. The Nigerian military has been criticized for using harsh tactics. A Reuters investigation last year revealed that the military had secretly carried out a mass abortion program in its fight against the Islamist group, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict in the region. As these events continue to unfold, the international community is expressing concerns about the human rights implications of Nigeria’s strategies in combating Boko Haram and the treatment of those who manage to escape from the group’s control.
