President Buhari Orders Action On Allegations Of IDP Abuse

President Buhari Orders Action On Allegations Of IDP Abuse

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.

He has therefore ordered an immediate investigation into the allegation.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President, Mr Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

He said that the welfare of these most vulnerable of Nigerian citizens has been a priority of President Buhari’s government and Nigerians and the international community can rest assured that the allegations raised in the HRW 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 statement read.

The international human rights group, the Human Rights Watch, in a report published on Monday morning, accused Nigerian security officials of raping and exploiting female internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps as a result of Boko Haram’s insurgency.

It also accusing the government of not doing enough to protect affected women or punish the officials involved.

The rights group stated that it documented 43 cases of rape and exploitation of women and girls in several IDP camps in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in late July.

The group also listed movement restrictions, food shortages as abuses the IDPs have had to face.