Amnesty International Condemns Government’s Neglect Of Female Boko Haram Survivors

 

Amnesty International Condemns Government’s Neglect of Female Boko Haram Survivors

Amnesty International has issued a stern rebuke to the Nigerian government, accusing it of failing to support young women and girls who have escaped captivity at the hands of Boko Haram in the North-East region.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, described the government’s continued inaction as unacceptable. He lamented the lack of effective reintegration services, noting that many of the survivors remain unable to support themselves or their families.

“In June 2024, Amnesty International published ‘Help Us Build Our Lives’: Girl Survivors of Boko Haram and Military Abuses in North-East Nigeria, which detailed the pressing need for psychosocial and economic support for these girls and young women as they attempt to heal and reintegrate into society,” Sanusi said.

“One year on, it is utterly deplorable that the Nigerian authorities have yet to establish a system through which these young survivors can rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.

“Escaping from Boko Haram ought to mark the beginning of recovery and reintegration. Yet, numerous survivors have informed us they remain abandoned, forced to struggle for daily survival without meaningful support.”

The statement further highlighted that victims of Boko Haram's atrocities—including forced marriage, sexual slavery, and human trafficking—continue to go unidentified and unaided, effectively rendering them invisible in the eyes of the state.

Amnesty reported conducting remote interviews in February 2025 with seven recently escaped girls aged 12 to 17, and one 22-year-old woman. These survivors described harrowing post-escape experiences marked by hardship and continued neglect by the authorities, despite having endured years of violence and exploitation.

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