‘Insurgents made us sex slaves: They demanded sex and raped us frequently … they treated it as their right to sexually abuse us whenever they wanted; it was a case of sex on demand.
When Fatima Bukar and her sister were abducted by insurgents, they did not know the horror that was in store for them.
“The insurgents made us sex slaves. They demanded sex and raped us frequently. If we tried to resist, they beat and tortured us. They treated it as if it was their right to sexually abuse us whenever they wanted. It was a case of sex on demand.
“They told us we were dirty and that no one would ever speak to us again. They said society would reject us and our families would be humiliated and they would hide us from the outside world.
“We were not the only young girls – some were forced to marry insurgents and even had children with them. All the women were sexually exploited in the worst possible ways.
“Eventually, we were rescued by security operatives. We thought the horror was over but getting back into society was extremely difficult.
“When we returned home, we were afraid to be seen in public. There is stigma associated with being a victim of sexual gender-based violence [SGBV]. Women and girls are often blamed for the violence and assaults. We faced discrimination and we were afraid to tell people what had happened to us.
“Both my sister and I suffered from depression and anxiety. Then one day we decided to contact a local non-governmental organisation [NGO], the Allamin Foundation. We were encouraged to share our ordeal. For the first time we felt accepted. We met other young women who had gone through the same trauma. We went through rehabilitation and counselling. From being victims we are now survivors.
“We raise our voices against every kind of GBV, including sexual abuse. We encourage women who have been abused speak up and report it.
“With the support of Borno State government and humanitarian agencies, many of us underwent various skills acquisition programmes. We were taught to make caps, soaps and other skills. That helped to become entrepreneurs and self-reliant.
“Many of us go to schools in and around Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. Some go to elementary schools, others go to the Borno State Agency for Mass Literacy and the Women Day Secondary School. We urge students not to remain silent and to report GBV to the authorities.
“I was among five people selected by a local NGO known as Women and Children Survival in Conflict Foundation to raise awareness within communities. We talk to women and girls to encourage them to report cases of GBV. We tell them not to keep it a secret or hide what happened to them.”
Fatima said it was important to speak out about GBV and other forms of violence perpetrated against women and girls, particularly during this time when people around the world were observing the 16 Days of Activism.
The campaign aims to raise awareness and mobilise action to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
The campaign started on Monday, November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on Tuesday, December 10, Human Rights Day.
Given the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on Women (BPOA) planned to be held at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in March 2025, this year’s 16 Days of Activism holds special significance.
Signed by 189 Member States in 1995, BPOA is the most significant global policy framework for women’s rights and gender equality.
This year’s theme of the 16 Days of Activism is Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
According to Médecins du Monde (MdM) – an international humanitarian organisation which seeks to provide emergency and long-term medical care to the world’s most vulnerable people – there are five forms of violence against women and girls: sexual, physical, economic, emotional and psychological, and harmful traditional practices.
They are driven by unequal power relationships and social roles ascribed by society that subjugate women and produce gendered inequities.
The insurgency in Borno State has resulted in mass abductions, survival sex, forced prostitution, forced and early marriage, physical, mental and sexual assault.
MdM said gendered structures are strengthened in conflicts and post-conflict settings causing patterns of violence and SGBV to increase.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are even more vulnerable because of the resultant loss of socioeconomic opportunities, housing, security, lack of institutional protection and separation from family.
Lack of awareness about available services, stigma and lack of self-efficacy to initiate conversations about rape with health providers are some factors that limit uptake of medical and psychosocial support services, said MdM.
There was a prevailing consensus among families to conceal rape to protect the family reputation and avoid stigma.
The culture of silence was reinforced by socioeconomic factors such as poverty and family indebtedness to potential suitors that constrained their capacity to disclose or discuss SGBV to facilitate help seeking.
Community structures that promote victim blaming and ostracisation of survivors and their families shaped the social norms that drive SGBV and limit survivors’ self-efficacy to seek help.
MdM said poor access to justice for rape normalises violence and empowers perpetrators to continue to violate the rights of women and girls.
In Borno State, not only have many women and girls been victims of GBV and SGBV perpetrated by insurgents, but they have also experienced all kinds of violent abuse by security operatives in the course of counterinsurgency operations.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said the devastating September 10 flood that engulfed Maiduguri and environs had significantly affected the delivery of healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care: 25 primary healthcare centres and two tertiary health facilities in the Maiduguri, Jere and Konduga local government areas were destroyed.
Ongoing conflict was increasing food insecurity in Borno state, it said, and there were reports that women and girls were resorting to negative coping mechanisms – such as transactional sex – to survive.
During the flood, many people in Borno State sought refuge in overcrowded shelters where they lacked access to clean water and healthcare, including SRH services. Risks increased for women and girls. The closure of the Teachers’ Village temporary relocation site on October 29, and the integration of the remaining displaced people into Gubio and Bakassi sites to better coordinate relief efforts, raised further health and protection concerns, UNFPA said.
The Borno State government’s plan to close camps, relocate and resettle IDPs was ongoing. This will move displaced persons from more accessible areas to harder-to-reach locations which could hinder their easy access to humanitarian services.
In 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General launched the campaign, UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism.
The goal is to create a global platform that highlights the need for gender equality and for the elimination of violence against women in all its forms, both at home and in the workplace.
It is a powerful reminder that violence against women is not a private issue, but a widespread social challenge that demands systemic change.
Aisha Ali Indimi, a human rights activist and the gender focal person in Borno State’s Ministry of Education, told RNI that during the 16 Days of Activism campaign it was imperative to create more awareness among parents, relatives and GBV victims to encourage women and girls to report any kind violence against them – if people did not report the crimes “the menace will never end”.
“The 16 Days of Activism campaign is a global initiative that serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to eliminate all forms of GBV.
“While there has been some progress in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls, significant challenges persist. A major issue is underreporting.
“If these cases are not reported to appropriate authorities and officials, it is the same as giving perpetrators the green light to commit more violence against women. They believe they can get away with it and they will forever go unpunished. Meantime, the violence against women and girls continues.
“I cannot emphasise more strongly the need to report these acts of violence. It is the only way to get justice and put an end to the abuse of women and girls.”
Hajja Bawa Gana Kyari director of child welfare in the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs, said too many women were living with severe afflictions as a result of sexual violence perpetrated against them.
“During the 16 Days of Activism, creating awareness is key – particularly the need to report cases of GBV and SGBV so that culprits can be brought to justice and punished.
“The Borno State government has established several centres and desks in Maiduguri for reporting GBV cases – and other violence – against women and girls. There is a desk at the State Ministry of Women Affairs, a centre in Budum, a desk at the Women Development Centre and a centre at the Umaru Shehu Hospital.
“We urge parents, families and relatives to report any kind of GBV to the State Police Command or at the centres established by the government.
“Parents and relatives should report the perpetrator, no matter his status, religion, tribe, title and or position. Perpetrators must face the wrath of the law whoever they are.”
Amina Mohammed is a SGBV survivor who lives in Maiduguri.
She was abducted by insurgents. They beat her mercilessly and raped her repeatedly.
“When I escaped from my captors, I had already given up on life. I thought my future was ruined. I had deep depression and repeated anxiety attacks. I could not sleep. I was severely traumatised.
“It was only through the help of local NGOs that I was able to face life again. At first, I was terrified of facing others, even my family. I was scared about what they might think of me. I thought they might blame me. But, after a lot of counselling, I am back living in a dignified manner with my family.
“With the right counselling, it is possible to live a normal life again. I know of SGBV survivors who have suitors and who have ended up getting married.
“They, like me, regard themselves as survivors, not victims. I encourage women and girls to be bold, to speak up and not to keep quiet.”
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
