Sexual Violence Against Women in Armed Conflicts: A Case Study of Boko Haram Insurgency

in Nigeria

By
Ahmed Rufa’i Usman
Department of Sociology, Federal University, Dutse- Jigawa State
+2347033075170
arusman2015@gmail.com
and
Ibrahim Abubakar
Department of Sociology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
namadobi31@gmail.com
+2348034626839
Abstract
The paper examined sexual violence against women in armed conflict perpetrated by Boko Haram and
security forces in the northeastern Nigeria. Women and girls are vulnerable and suffer from different
atrocities in armed conflict from the insurgents/terrorist and the security forces. Women in the
northeastern Nigeria particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states suffer from sexual violence by the
insurgents and the security forces in counter insurgency. Many of the displaced women and teenage girls
in IDPs camps were raped, pregnant by the soldiers, civilian JTF and abandoned. Boko Haram committed
similar atrocities in their camps, many of the abductees interviewed by the Human Rights Watch in 2014
and 2015 revealed that they were raped and become symbol of sexual satisfaction to the insurgents. Most
of the women and girls who refused are brutalize and threatened either by the security forces or Boko
Haram in their camps. Babies are given birth at the Boko Haram and IDPs camps and are usually
neglected and abandoned. Sexual violence becomes prevalent in the northeast Nigeria as a result of Boko
Haram insurgency. This violates the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Laws in armed
conflict. Sexual violence has lot of consequences on the victims ranging from psychological, physical,
social, economical and the larger society. The paper conceptualized sexual violence, rape, Boko Haram
and sexual violence, security forces and sexual violence in counter insurgency and impact of sexual
violence. Radical feminism was adopted in given theoretical explanation. The paper recommends among
others, perpetrators of sexual violence at peacetime and in armed conflict should be severely punished
when caught to serve as deterrence to the larger society.
Key words: Boko Haram, insurgency, rape, sexual violence, pregnancy

Introduction
Sexual violence occurred during armed conflict at all times, on all continents. It is still prevalent
in a number of conflicts perpetrated by terrorist groups like Boko Haram, al-qaeda, Taliban,
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al-shabaab. One of the specific issues related to sexual
violence is that it remains an invisible crime because feelings of guilt or shame, fear of
retaliation or taboos may prevent victims from coming forward and talk about it. Sexual violence
is not perpetrated in isolation but accompanied by other violations such as unlawful killings,
child recruitment, destruction of property and looting. Sexual violence has devastating
consequences, primarily for the victims suffer physical, psychological, social and economic
effects. The relatives also face trauma, feelings of indignity and guilt for been unable to protect
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their next-of-kin. It may also have consequences for entire communities when it creates fear and
destroys the social fabric. Sexual violence is absolutely prohibited under International
Humanitarian Law (IHL). International Criminal Law has also criminalized sexual violence at
the international level in armed conflict (Arief, 2011).
Women and girls face a heightened risk of sexual assault in peace time and armed conflict and
remain widespread in conflict nations in Africa and affect displaced women and girls. Civilian
population in conflict zones particularly women and children are often vulnerable to sexual
violence including rape, sexual assault, mutilation, forced prostitution, sexual slavery and other
abuses. Perpetrators of sexual violence in armed conflict include members of the security forces,
insurgents, and militias, humanitarian and peacekeeping workers. Africa faces serious insecurity
as a result of insurgency and armed conflict. Nations affected now and before include Central
Africa Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Cote d’Ivore, Liberia,
Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Both security forces and rebels inflicted sexual violence
upon the civilian population on a massive scale. Sexual violence is often prevalent in camps for
internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. This is because the displaced women and girls
are vulnerable (Cohen et al, 2013).
Boko Haram has embarked on the deliberate use of sexual violence against women as one of its
tactics in the terror campaign against the Nigerian state. Rescued women from the camps of Boko
Haram have tested positive for HIV and many were found to be pregnant. The general opinion
regarding the high number of pregnancies among the rescued female victims of Boko Haram
sexual violence is that these pregnancies resulted from a deliberate plan by Boko Haram to
ensure that the women produce offspring that will continue the insurgency. One may never know
the full extent of the sexual violence unleashed on Nigerian women by Boko Haram, due to the
prevailing culture of silence on matters relating to rape in Nigeria. Most victims are not willing
to talk about their ordeal because of fear of stigmatization by other members of the society.
These mindless acts have taken their toll on society, lives have been destroyed, marriages have
broken down and the victims have been in despair. Security forces are deployed in conflict areas
with aim of protecting the civilian population. Security forces and civilian JTF also perpetrated
sexual violence in the context of counter insurgency. In Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon
security forces raped women and teenage girls in counter Boko Haram insurgency. This act
violates International Humanitarian Law guiding the rules of engagement of the security forces

2
in peacekeeping operations and counter insurgency. Boko Haram insurgents have committed
serious sexual violence particularly in Sambisa forest. Against this background, this paper
examined sexual violence in Boko Haram insurgency perpetrated by the security forces and the
insurgents in north eastern Nigeria.

Conceptual Explanation of Sexual Violence

According to Campbell et al (2000), sexual violence occurs throughout the world and a serious
problem affecting millions of people each year worldwide. Sexual violence can be committed in
peacetime, or during armed conflicts or other situation of violence. It can be committed by
variety of actors for a variety of purpose. It is driven by many factors operating in a range of
social, cultural and economic context. The highest prevalence rate cases of sexual violence
globally are found in nations suffering from conflict, terrorism and insurgency. Sexual violence
has a profound impact on physical and mental health of the victims. Sexual violence in armed
conflict is associated with the use of force, threats of weapons, manipulation or coercion against
the victims. Rape as an act of sexual violence has been used as a weapon of war and has been
documented in many conflicts including those in Algeria, Bosnia Herzegovina, Liberia, Rwanda,
Central Africa, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, Mali, Nigeria, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria
(Amnesty International, 2011).

According to John (1998), sexual violence is any form of sexual activity where consent is not
obtained from the partner. It occurs whenever an individual is coerced, forced or manipulated
into sexual activity without her/his consent or engaging in sexual relationship with a victim who
cannot resist based on the age, illness, disability or under the influence of substance such as
alcohol. Other form of sexual violence includes aggressive sexual behavior such as sex without
consent known as rape. Other components of sexual violence include forced kissing, forced
breast and genital fondling, attempted rape and forced exposure to pornography, incest, child
sexual assault, ritual abuse, non-stranger rape, statutory rape, marital or partner rape, sexual
exploitation, sexual contact, sexual harassment, voyeurism, forced abortion and rape during
armed conflict. Others include showing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent,
masturbation in the public. Sexual violence happens to people of all ages, races, genders,
religions, professions, ethnicities, friends, neighbors or relatives. According to World Health

3
Organization (2001), sexual violence as “ any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act,
unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a
person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in
any setting, including but not limited to home and work”.
Conceptual Explanation of Rape
Rape is a heinous crime a worrisome epidemic that is being problematic in contemporary Nigeria
due to many factors inherited in the Nigerian society. Rape is a crime of forcing some body to
have sex with one especially using violence. It is an act of sexual violence that involves
intercourse without consent or against someone being willing to engage in the act. Rape is
associated with the use of threat, force, duress, psychological depression, torture and coercion to
achieve sexual gratification unlawfully. It involves any unlawful sexual behavior or actions such
as caress and fondling breast and body, ones private parts or genital organs to derive sexual
pleasure. Rape is assaultive attack on any unwilling victim. It is an aggression against females
mostly during wars, against slave girls, inmates and social groups who lack power or status,
where the perpetrators uses it as a means of humiliating, degrading and dehumanizing their
victims. Rape is a sexual assault involving some type of penetration i.e. virginal, oral, or anal due
to force or threat of force, lack of consent or inability of the victim to provide consent due to age,
intoxication or mental status (Achunike et al, 2014).
World Health Organization (1995) cited in Rothbau (1998), defined rape as physically forced or
otherwise coerced penetration, even if slight-of the vulva or anus, using penis, other body parts
or an object. Section 375 of the Criminal Code applies to Southern Nigeria defined rape as “any
person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent or with her
consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind, or
by fear of harm, or by means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act, or
in the case of married woman, by personating her husband is guilty of an offence which is called
rape”. Section 282 of the Penal Code applies to Northern Nigeria defined rape as “1. A man is
said to commit rape who has sexual intercourse with a woman in any of the following: (a)
against her will (b) without her consent (c) with her consent, when her consent has been obtained
by putting her in fear of death or of hurt (d) with her consent, when the man knows that he is not
her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is the man to whom she is
or believes herself to be lawfully married (e) with or without her consent when she is under

4
fourteen years of age or of unsound mind. 2. Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife is
not rape, if she has attained to puberty” (Adegbite, 2015).
The two definitions above show that in Nigeria, rape can only be committed by a man against a
woman and not vice versa. Under Nigerian aw a woman cannot be charged with rape and a man
cannot be a victim of rape. In other climes, this is not the case because it has been recognized
that a man may also be a victim of rape and it may be penetrated by any person, including a
woman as in US and UK. For example the US Department of Justice defines rape as penetration,
no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a
sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim (Vetten, 2014).
Boko Haram and Sexual Violence in North Eastern Nigeria
Many of the women and girls abducted by the insurgents suffer from sexual violence in the
camps. However, little is known about the abuses suffered by women and girls in captivity. They
were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, forced labour, forced participation in
military operations, forced marriage to their captors and sexual abuse include rape. Security
forces discovered several used and unused condoms in the captured territories camps. The rape
of women and girls abducted by Boko Haram has been underreported because of the culture of
silence, stigma and shame around sexual abuse in Nigeria.
Women and girls who had either escaped or released by Boko Haram stressed that they are
routinely forced to cook, clean, and perform household chores while in Boko Haram custody. A
woman who had been abducted and held for days by Boko Haram told human right watch In
Maiduguri that she had been forced to wash the bloodied clothes of insurgents who were killed.
Other abducted women and girls were forced to participate in military operations using
improvised explosive devices and guns (Amnesty International, 2015)
Victims of Boko Haram abduction are forced to marry the insurgents. Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau in a video in May, 2014 stressed that “they are against western education for
girls, instead that the girls attend Quranic School or marry and Chibok girls would be given in
marriage because they are our slaves”. Abducted women and girls were forced to marry the
insurgents. Girls abducted by Boko Haram get married before the age of puberty and this affect
their health condition (Buba, 2015).
Women and girls abducted are coerced by the Boko Haram commandants and other insurgents
to rape the abducted girls and women in captivity. They are usually forced to have affair with

5
Boko Haram members; they are threatened with knives and gun. Girls who are not up to puberty
stage are raped and bleed during captivity, where many of them died due to brutality and others
were exposed to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and other diseases that cannot be
diagnose and treated in captivity (Human Right Watch,2014).
Human Rights Watch (2014), documented report entitled “Those Terrible Weeks in their Camp:
Boko Haram Violence against Women and Girls in Northeastern Nigeria. Human Rights Watch
documented cases of sexual violence perpetrated by Boko Haram combatants. The cases were
presented in interviews as:

An 18 year old victim described how a Boko Haram combatant sexually abused her when she
went to use the bathroom:
I did not know he followed me when I walked a short
distance away from the tree under which we slept. He
grabbed me from behind, roughly fondling me while trying to
take off his pants. I screamed in fright and he hurriedly left
me as I continued to shout for help.
Another woman, who was raped in 2013 in a Boko Haram camp near Gwoza, described how a
commander’s wife appeared to encouraged the crime:
I was lying down in the cave pretending to be ill because I did
not want the marriage the commander planned to conduct for
me with another insurgent on his return from Sambisa camp.
When the insurgent who had paid my dowry came in to force
himself on me, the commander’s wife blocked the cave
entrance and watched as the man raped me.
A 15 year old girl who was abducted in 2013 and spent four weeks with Boko Haram told
Human Rights Watch:
After we were declared married I was ordered to live in his
cave but I always managed to avoid him. He soon began to
threaten me with a knife to have sex with him, and when I
still refused he brought out his gun, warning that he would
kill me if I shouted. Then he began to rape me every night.
He was a huge man in his mid-30s and I had never had sex
before. It was very painful and cried bitterly because I was
bleeding afterwards.

6
A 19 year old woman, who was married and had children, described how she and one other
woman were raped after having been abducted with four other women in April 2014. She
narrated to Human Rights Watch:
When we arrived at the camp they left us under a tree. I
managed to sleep, I was exhausted and afraid. Late in the
night, two insurgents shook me and another woman awake,
saying their leader wanted to see us. We had no choice but to
follow them, but as soon as we moved deep into the woods,
one of them dragged me away, while his partner took the
other woman in another direction. I guessed what they had in
mind and began to cry. I begged him, telling him I was a
married woman. He ignored my please, flung me on the
ground and raped me. I could not tell anyone what happened,
not even my husband. I still feel so ashamed and cheated.
The other woman told me she was also raped, but vowed
never to speak of it again as she was single and believes that
news of her rape would foreclose her chances of marriage.

A 15 year old girl, who was raped, described experience at Boko Haram camp she narrated to
Human Rights Watch:
I could not stop crying even when the insurgents threatened
to kill me if I didn’t keep quite. I kept on thinking, is it not
better to die now than to face whatever terrible things they
could do to me when we get to their camp? Even after I
escaped from them I live far away from my village, am still
afraid. I think of death many times, my father encourages me
to forget everything, but it is not easy for me, I have terrible
dreams at night.

In 2013 study published by Political Violence Research Network (NPRV), nongovernmental

organization, on violence against Christian women in northeast Nigeria documented 17 cases of
women and girls who had been raped. The cases included the rape of six women who said they
were repeatedly raped for two weeks in May 2013 by the insurgents holding them in a house in
Maiduguri. Rape by the insurgents have reported in the Nigerian media, including the case of a
44 year old business woman who was allegedly raped by teenage combatants while she was held
in their camp for not giving money to their cause. A social worker who has worked extensively
with families affected by Boko Haram’s violence expressed that the rape of abducted women and
girls has been underreported, giving the culture of silence, stigma and shame around sexual

7
abuse in the northern Nigeria. The relatives of the victims insisted on sending them to other
towns to avoid the family being ostracized by neighbours. Many of the abductees that were raped
suffer from trauma in their communities. A husband of a victim abducted in Adamwa state
refused to touch his wife after she was raped by an insurgent in a Boko Haram camp in Gwoza in
December 2013. Because of the stigmatization and discrimination associated with rape, many
victims were unwilling to open up about their horrific experiences (Human Right Watch.2014).
Security Forces and Sexual Violence in Counter Boko Haram Insurgency
According to Amnesty International (2016), sexual violence is absolutely prohibited under
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Criminal Law has also criminalized
sexual violence at the international level in armed conflict. Sexual violence is often prevalent in
conflict societies and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. This is because
the displaced women and girls are vulnerable. Security forces and civilian JTF perpetrated sexual
violence in the context of counter insurgency. In Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon security
forces raped women and teenage girls at villages and IDPs camp in counter Boko Haram
insurgency. This act violates International Humanitarian Law guiding the rules of engagement of
the security forces in peacekeeping operations and counter insurgency. Human Rights Watch
(2015), documented report on sexual violence perpetrated by security forces and civilian JTF
titled “Nigeria: Officials Abusing Displaced Women and Girls”. Interviews were conducted by
Human Rights Watch in IDPs camp.
A 16 year old girl who fled a brutal Boko Haram attack in Baga, near the shores of Lake Chad in
January 2015, said she was dragged by a vigilante group member in charge of distributing aid in
the camp:
He knew my parents were dead, because he is also from
Baga. He would bring me food items like rice and spaghetti
so I believed he really wanted to marry me. But he was also
asking for sex. I always told him I was too small. The day
he raped me, he offered me a drink in a cup. As soon as I
drank it, I slept off. It was in his camp room. I knew
something was wrong when I woke up. I was in pain and
blood was coming out of my private part. I felt weak and
could not walk well. When my menstrual did not come, I
knew I was pregnant and just wanted to die to join my dead
mother. I was too ashamed to even go to the clinic for
pregnancy care. The man ran away from the camp, I just feel

8
 sorry for the baby because I have no food or love to give him
and late died.

An 18 year old girl from Kukawa said that member of the civilian JTF working with the
government forces initially gave her privileges, including passes that allowed her to leave the
camp, but then raped her:
The man started with preaching, telling me to be a good
Muslim girl and not to join bad groups in the camp. He then
sent his mother to propose to me, which convinced me that
he was serious. He allowed me to go outside camp when
necessary. He asked me to go to his room in the camp
because I felt safe with him. He gave me a battle of Zobo
(locally brewed non-alcoholic drink) and I immediately felt
dizzy and slept off. I don’t know what happened thereafter
but when I woke up he was gone and I was in pain and felt
wet between my legs. For three days I could not walk
properly. Some weeks later I feel very ill, and I was told at
the hospital that I was pregnant. My step-mother and every
one turned away from me and refused to help me saying I
was a disgrace. I reported him to the police in camp but
nothing happened. I don’t think the baby will last because she
always cries and I can’t cope.

A 30 year old woman who lost her husband and abducted two of her daughters were brought to
camp by soldiers and narrated:
A few weeks after soldiers transported us to camp near
Maiduguri, one of the soldiers guarding us approached me
for marriage. He used to bring food and clothes for me and
my remaining four children, so I allowed him to have sex
with me. Two months later he stopped coming, then I
realized I was pregnant. I feel so angry with him for
deceiving me. Now my situation is worse as the pregnancy
makes me sick, and I have no one to help me care for my
children.

A woman from Baga living at the IDPs camp said:

The soldier showed his interest by bringing me food and
clothes. He used to wear green army uniform and carried a
gun. I accepted him because I needed help to take care of me
and my four children. Feeding in the camp is once a day so
you have to accept any help that comes. We stated having sex
in my camp tent or at night in the open field where the
9
 soldiers stay in the camp. Five months later when I realized I
was pregnant and told him, he stopped coming. I have not
seen him since then. I delivered the baby two months ago but
he s also suffering, I eat once a day so there is shortage of
milk to breast feed him well.

An 18 year old girl from Bama was raped and pregnant by civilian JTF:
He took me from the camp to a house where we use d to
have affairs. After then I fell ill and went to clinic and I was
told I was pregnant. He accepted the pregnancy and took me
to a man to abort it. I refused and we separated and I returned
to the camp. I gave birth to a baby and he refused to take
responsibility, while his two wives were at the camp. I go
outside camp to beg so that we can survive.

The consequences of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence has number of consequences on the victims and the larger society. It has
repercussion on the survivor, relatives, government and the larger society.

Impact on Survivors
Survivors of sexual violence react in their own unique way. There are long term and short term
impacts of sexual violence on overall health and psychological wellbeing. Common emotional
reactions include post-traumatic stress disorder, guilt, shame, stigma, fear, numbness, shock, and
feelings of ostracized. The psychological effects of sexual violence have been linked to stress
disorder, phobia, and long term health risk behavior. Reactions can range from eating disorders
to anxiety and depression. Physical impacts may include personal injuries, unwanted pregnancy.
Some health outcomes can be fatal such as damage to the body organs, suicide, maternal
mortality STDs and HIV/AIDS. Economic impacts of sexual violence include medical expenses
and time off work. Sexual violence and related trauma response can disrupt survivors’
employment, diminished performance, jobless and inability to work. Socially it leads to stigma,
discrimination and loss of self-esteem.

Impact on the Relatives

Sexual violence can affect parents, friends, children, spouses and coworkers of the survivor. As
they try to make sense of what happened, loved ones may experience similar reactions and
feelings to those of the survivor. Fear, guilt, self blame, medical expenses and anger are few
10
common reactions. The family of the survivor may also be ostracize and stigmatize in the society
which may affect the entire members of the family socially and economically.

Impact on the Society

Members of the society may feel fear, anger and become obsessed if sexual violence is
perpetrated in their community. Additionally, there are financial costs to communities; these
costs include medical services, criminal justice expenses, and mental health services. Society
become disorganize and create a climate of chaos, violence and fear due to uncertainty that such
act can happen to any member of the society ( Black, 2011).

Sexual Violence and International Humanitarian Law

The 1949 Geneva Conventions classify sexual violence as a violation of the law of war. A
number of individuals were prosecuted in International Criminal Court (ICC) for sexual violence
committed during conflicts in Africa. The ICC has jurisdiction over serious crimes of sexual and
gender-based violence. Under International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law and
Human Rights Laws sexual violence is torture, inhuman, degrading treatment or ill-treatments on
the victims. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are prohibited in war or peace time and
violate Article 3 and 5 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and crimes against humanity that is
punishable by the International Criminal Court and Human Rights Laws. Sexual violence in form
of rape committed in peacetime or in war by security forces or terrorists transgressed Article1 of
the Unite Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women of 1993. The
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) of 2003
prohibit violence against women and contain a number of provisions aimed at protecting women
from sexual violence and degrading treatment (Gaggioli, 2014).

The International Conference for the Protection of War Victims, held in Geneva in august, 1993
declared that sexual violence directed against women and children constitute grave breaches of
International Humanitarian Law. Rape amounts to torture and as such can be prosecuted under
the grave breaches provisions. The Rome Statute, adopted by states in 1998, provides that rape,
sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization or any other form
of sexual violence constitute a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and a serious violation
of Article3 and defined as international crime. The 1999 constitution (as amended) section 34

11
provides right to dignity of human person. No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman
or degrading treatment. No person shall be held in slavery or servitude and no person shall be
required to perform forced or compulsory labour. Various legislations criminalized sexual
violence either at peacetime or in armed conflict. The punishment for rape as a form of sexual
violence in Nigeria defends on states, it may be life imprisonment maximum but it may be less.
In India is life imprisonment or death. In France is 15 years imprisonment to death. In US and
UK is life imprisonment. In Saudi Arabia, North Korea, china and Egypt is death sentence and
16 years imprisonment in Israel (Harmen, 2012).
Radical Feminist Theory
The paper adopted radical feminist theory in given theoretical explanation on sexual violence
among women and girls in armed conflict. Feminist thought has a long history, dated back to the
18th century and the work of early liberal feminist thinkers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and john
Stuart Mill. Feminism attempts to develop a comprehensive account of the subordination of
women, women’s oppression and develop effective strategies to liberate women. Feminists’
movement aims to end sexism, sexist exploitation, oppression and struggle to eradicate the
ideology of women’s hegemony and subjugation. Its aim is not to benefit solely any specific
group of women, race or class of women. Feminism is therefore, a response on why women have
been oppressed and unjustly treated. There are varieties of feminist theories, it include liberal,
Marxist, radical, socialist, psychoanalytic, existentialist, multicultural, postmodern, global and
ecofeminisms. The main point feminists have stressed about ender inequality is that it is not an
individual matter, but is deeply ingrained in the structure of societies. Gender inequality is built
into the organization of marriage and families, work and economy, law and criminal justice,
politics, religions, the arts and cultural productions, and the language (Lobber, 1999).

Radical feminism emphasized on the study of women’s daily lives such as housework, serving
men’s’ emotional and sexual needs, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause. Radical
feminism’s theoretical watchword is patriarchy, or men’s pervasive oppression and exploitation
of women, which can be found wherever women and men are in contact with each other, in
private as well as in public. Radical feminism argues that patriarchy is very hard to eradicate
because of its belief that women are inferior, is deeply embedded in most men’s consciousness.
It can be resisted by forming non-hierarchical society. The possibility of creating woman-
oriented health care facilities, safe residences for battered women, counseling and legal services
12
for survivors of rape, a woman’s culture and even a woman’s religion and ethics forged the
bonds of sisterhood and rationale for separation from men. Radical feminism blames male for all
problems in the society such as war, poverty, rape, battering, child abuse and violence against
women. Men have the potential to use physical violence against women including rape and
murder. The threat of violence and rape, radical feminism theorizes, is the way patriarchy
controls all women. Radical feminism aimed at protecting rape victims, battered women, and
condemnation of pornography, prostitution, sexual harassment and sexual coercion (Evans,
1995).

Women and girls in armed conflict suffer sexual violence in the society because of their
inferiority. Women are viewed as servants to males and gives sexual satisfaction. Because of
their inferiority they are raped in peacetime and in armed conflict. Women and girls are exploited
and subjugated in IDPs camp which gave opportunity for the security forces to coerced and rape
them. Boko Haram viewed women as servant as such they abduct them for force labour, military
operations, and sexual exploitation. The male dominant ideology or patriarchy is what led to
violation of women’s rights in peacetime and in armed conflict.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Boko Haram insurgents are perpetrating sexual violence against women and girls in the northeast
Nigeria. They adopt this tactics through abduction of hundreds of women and girls. Boko Haram
and security forces such as JTF and civilian JTF have committed number of sexual violence
which violates International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law in armed conflict. Most
of the IDPs and Boko Haram camps become avenues for sexual violence against women and
teenage girls. The paper proffers the following recommendations:

1. Perpetrators of sexual violence at peacetime and in armed conflict should be severely punished
when caught to serve as deterrence to larger society.

2. International community should assist Nigerian government to combat Boko Haram and
ensure that abducted women and girls in Boko Haram camps are rescue and special treatment
should be given to the victims of sexual violence. Boko Haram suspect should also be
prosecuted in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law in
armed conflict.

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3. Government should establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate general
allegations of violation of human rights and humanitarian law by government security forces and
recommend measures to ensure that it do not recur.
4. Legislature should undertake review and possible amendment of the rules of engagement of
the security forces in armed conflict.
5. Government should increase funding for relief and emergency operations to be able to care for
the increasing number of IDPs. Basic facilities such as shelter, heath, education and recreational
needs should be provided especially for women and girls that suffer from sexual exploitation to
treat post-rape care in accordance with WHO standards.
6. Government should provide medical facilities, drugs and personnel in the IDPs camp with aim
of given special treatment to victims of sexual violence in the camp.

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Adegbite, K (2015) Learning Law in Nigeria. Lagos: Priceton Publishing Company.
Amnesty International (2011) Rape and Sexual Violence: Human Rights Law and Standards in
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Amnesty International (2015) Our Job is to Shoot, Slaughter and Kill: Boko Haram’s Reign in
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