President Buhari calls for action on HRW report of IDPs’ Abuse
President Muhammadu Buhari has retreated his commitment to take seriously, the welfare of vulnerable Nigerian citizens and has ordered the police to investigate the report of The Human Rights Watch,HRW, accusing security personnel of raping women and girls at IDP camps.
This was contend in a statement released by the Senior special assistant to the President on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu on Monday. The statement reads;
“President Muhammadu Buhari is worried and shocked by the recently released Human Rights Watch (HRW) report which alleges sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls in camps for those displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The welfare of these most vulnerable of Nigerian citizens has been a priority of his government. Nigerians and the international community can be rest assured that the allegations raised in the HRW reports are not being taken lightly.
President Buhari has instructed the Inspector General of Police and the state governors of the affected states to immediately commence investigations into the issue. Their findings will determine the next course of action for the government and define an appropriate response.
While the Nigerian military continues to work hard so that these unfortunate victims of Boko Haram terrorism can soon return safely to their homes, the government will do its best to ensure their protection and welfare in the temporary IDP camps.”
The plight of women and girls at various IDP camps in the North east came to a public scrutiny following a report by The Human Rights Watch, HRW, which accused the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, vigilante groups and camp leaders of raping young girls and women in various Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps.
HRW, in the report published on Monday, also criticised the government for not doing enough to sanction those involved in the act.
The report also 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.
