Police, Army involve in sexual abuse at IDP camps

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says its research showed that policemen and soldiers were among those that sexually exploit women in IDP camps across Nigeria – The report released on the official website of the HRW on Monday, October 31 accused the government of not doing enough to bring the abusers to justice – HRW research showed that some women were forced into sexual relationships with promises of marriage while others were drugged violated 

 Security officers are called to control some of the internally displaced people at the Bakkasi camp. The people were upset at camp authorities for what they say is poor distribution of food rations, in Borno, Nigeria, on August 29, 2016. Photo: Reuters The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a damning report about how men of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army take advantage of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their various camps, raping them at will. In the report published on Monday, October 31, HRW said its research showed that government officials that included policemen, soldiers, vigilante groups and even camp leaders defile little girls and young women.

 HRW accused the government of not doing enough to correct the situation because it does not sanction the abusers. The report read: “Government officials and other authorities in Nigeria have raped and sexually exploited women and girls displaced by the conflict with Boko Haram. The government is not doing enough to protect displaced women and girls and ensure that they have access to basic rights and services or to sanction the abusers, who include camp leaders, vigilante groups, policemen, and soldiers. “In late July, 2016, Human Rights Watch documented sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation, of 43 women and girls living in seven internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The victims had been displaced from several Borno towns and villages, including Abadam, Bama, Baga, Damasak, Dikwa, Gamboru Ngala, Gwoza, Kukawa, and Walassa. “In some cases, the victims had arrived in the under-served Maiduguri camps, where their movement is severely restricted after spending months in military screening camps.”
Senior Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch said Mausi Segun described the heinous acts as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘outrageous’. “It is bad enough that these women and girls are not getting 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.” 

HRW research showed that some of the victims were drugged and raped while others were forced into sex through false marriage promises and material and financial assistance. Many of those coerced into sex said they were abandoned if they became pregnant, the report said. Now, they and their children suffer discrimination, abuse, and stigmatization from other camp residents. Meanwhile, a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber was shot dead by soldiers in Maiduguri as he tried to make his way into the Bakassi IDP camp, which almost came under attack by a female suicide bomber who killed herself and five others on Saturday morning, October 29,
Read more: https://www.naij.com/1028867-shocking-police-army-indicted-sexual-abuses-idp-camps.html