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Roundup: Nigeria begins probe on sexual abuse of women in IDP camps

Xinhua, November 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Nigeria has launched a probe into an allegation of sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls in camps for internally displaced people (IDP) by soldiers and policemen.

The Nigerian police on Monday said at least 100 policewomen have been deployed to the camps to commence the investigation.

Damian Chukwu, police chief in the northeastern state of Borno, told Xinhua the deployment of policewomen to the camps was done to "dig out true happenings in the camps regarding the allegation."

Their objective is to further secure the camps and give confidence to thousands of women and girls living there.

According to Chukwu, the policewomen will also handle day-to-day interaction in the camps.

He said male officers have now been limited to handling the territorial coverage and patrolling within the camps.

Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the investigation following a report released by the Human Rights Watch, in which the organization alleged human rights abuse by Nigerian soldiers and policemen in the camps.

The Human Rights Watch said it documented sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation, of 43 women and girls living in seven internally displaced persons camps in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital in July.

Buhari, shocked and worried by the report, had ordered the Nigeria's police chief and governors of states playing host to the displaced people to investigate the allegation.

The Nigerian leader said the welfare of these vulnerable citizens had been a priority of his government, and assured Nigerians and the international community that the allegations raised by the Human Rights Watch would not be taken lightly.

The police said no alarm or complaint was raised prior to the findings of the Human Rights Watch.

However, investigation would unravel the truth of the matter once and for all, said Chukwu, the Borno State police chief.

"We feel that the victims might not want to talk freely to men, but they will be encouraged to open up to policewomen if the allegation is true," he added.

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