Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian army of illegally detaining girls and young women who have escaped from Boko Haram captivity. According to a report by the human rights group, 31 women were unlawfully held in military barracks for several days to almost four years between 2015 and mid-2023.
The women were detained due to their real or perceived association with Boko Haram, despite having escaped from the insurgent group. Amnesty International’s regional director, Samira Daoud, stated that the Nigerian government has failed to uphold its human rights obligations to protect and support these girls and young women.
The Nigerian military has denied the allegations, stating that it respects human rights and upholds humanitarian law. However, a Reuters investigation last year revealed that the military had secretly run a mass abortion program in its war against Boko Haram.
Boko Haram has been fighting an armed rebellion in Nigeria’s Northeast since 2009, resulting in the deaths of over 35,000 people. The group has been accused of torture, rape, forced marriage, and kidnapping, including the abduction of 300 girls from Chibok in 2014.
Amnesty International’s report is based on 126 interviews with female former captives between 2019 and 2024. The human rights group is calling on the Nigerian government to ensure the safe release of all unlawfully detained girls and young women and provide them with adequate support and protection.
