Amnesty International has called for urgent attention towards the psychological and medical needs of women and girls brutalized by Boko Haram insurgents.
The organization pointed out that women and girls are often subjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence when captured by members of the insurgent group.
However, most women and girls do not get any psychological and medical attention.
Osai Ojigho, director of Amnesty International Nigeria in a statement published on Wednesday said these cruel activities are crimes that must be urgently addressed.
“In February and March 2021, Amnesty International interviewed 22 people in a cluster of villages in northern Borno State that Boko Haram has repeatedly attacked since late 2019.
“As Boko Haram continues their relentless cycle of killings, abductions, and looting, they are also subjecting women and girls to rape and other sexual violence during their attacks. These atrocities are a war crime.
“The targeted communities have been abandoned by the forces that are supposed to protect them, and are struggling to gain any recognition or response to the horrors they’ve suffered. The Nigerian authorities must urgently address this issue.
“Amnesty International interviewed three other witnesses who similarly described the same attack, including hearing women’s screams and seeing them extremely distressed after Boko Haram left. A traditional healer said she cared for several women following the attack who had been raped,” he said.
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