Terrorism and Rape in Nigeria : A Cry for Justice

Abstract

Unarguably, rape has been used as a weapon of war many times in the past century. Although rape has been defined within the international community as a crime against humanity and an integral component of genocide if it is part of a widespread or systematic practice, terrorists continue to use rape as a weapon of war. With an increase in terrorist activity motivated by religion, some terrorists believe that God not only approves of their action, but that God demands their action. One of these terror-groups is Boko Haram. A terror movement whose name translates into “western education is forbidden” in local Hausa dialect, Boko Haram has become a metaphor for insecurity in Nigeria since 2009. Even a casual observer who does not live in Nigeria has likely heard of Boko Haram’s abduction of over 200 school girls from Government Secondary School Chibok in Borno State, north-eastern Nigeria on 14 th April, 2014. Therefore, this paper using a qualitative method of data collection and analysis (relying on academic works and media reports); revealed that Boko Haram has abducted many women and girls in north-eastern Nigeria and has perpetrated numerous physical and psychological abuses against them in captivity. Despite inadequate government response to prevent attacks and protect victims, there have been few investigations and no prosecutions. And apart from the Chibok girls that escaped from Boko Haram camps, none of the other victims of abduction or other violations had received any government-supported mental health or medical care. Therefore the paper recommended adequate criminal justice, as well as government-supported medical, psychological and social initiatives to all the victims of rape in Nigeria.