Boko Haram has been waging a long and bloody war against the Christians of Nigeria. These Christian girls had already been kidnapped, raped and beaten, and some were even forced to marry their rapists. Yet when soldiers from the government came to rescue them, they did the exact same things to them that the Muslims did:
A number of women and young girls who were rescued from the clutches of radical Islamic jihadist groups in Nigeria were also victimized and raped by the government officials entrusted to protect them, according to Human Rights Watch.
“It is bad enough that these women and girls are not getting much-needed support for the horrific trauma they suffered at the hands of Boko Haram. It is disgraceful and outrageous that people who should protect these women and girls are attacking and abusing them,” says Mausi Segun, senior Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch, in a new report that reveals the women’s abusers included camp leaders, vigilante groups, policemen and soldiers.
Four of the victims who shared their stories with HRW said they were drugged and raped, while at least 37 others said they were coerced into sex through false marriage promises and material help.
“Women and girls abused by members of the security forces and vigilante groups — civilian self-defense groups working with government forces in their fight against Boko Haram — told Human Rights Watch they feel powerless and fear retaliation if they report the abuse,” the report added.
Over 10,000 civilians have been killed by the conflict with Boko Haram since 2009, many of them Christians, who have found themselves the prime targets of the jihadist campaign of radicals. (source)