Nigeria to probe sexual abuse in IDP camps

Nigerian police Wednesday said it will investigate the allegation of sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls in camps for internally displaced people (IDP).

Borno State police chief Damian Chukwu in a meeting with reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, expressed shock over allegations of sexual abuse of girls and women by officials guarding the camps in the restive northeastern state of Borno.

Chukwu expressed reservation over the authenticity of the report.

"We have not received any complain or report from any IDP camp on the issue, so the whole thing is strange to me," he said, adding that the police would investigate the issue to find the truth.

Meanwhile, the state government had indicated its plans to collaborate with security agencies to investigate the issue.

Governor Kashim Shettima made the announcement when he received members of the National Universities Commission (NUC) who paid him a courtesy visit in Maiduguri.

The Human Rights Watch said in its latest report that it had documented sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation, of 43 women and girls living in seven IDP camps in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Nigeria's government said it will do its best to ensure the protection and welfare of the displaced people, while the military continued to rout Boko Haram from the country's northeast region in order for the victims to return safely to their homes. Endit