The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has accused Nigeria of grave and systematic violations of the rights of women and girls, citing the country’s repeated failure to prevent and respond to mass abductions.
In a report released Wednesday, the Committee revealed that more than 1,400 students have been kidnapped from schools since the 2014 Chibok abduction, which marked a turning point in international attention to such attacks.
A CEDAW delegation visited Nigeria in December 2023, meeting officials in Abuja, Adamawa, Borno, Enugu, and Kaduna, as well as survivors in IDP camps. Survivors recounted abuse in captivity, including forced marriages, religious conversion, sexual violence, and beatings. The report noted that 91 Chibok girls remain missing, with no ongoing negotiations for their release.
The Committee criticised Nigeria for abandoning escapees without rehabilitation or schooling, in contrast to those freed through government negotiations who received psychosocial care and scholarships. It also faulted authorities for failing to criminalise abduction and marital rape nationwide, and for not adequately equipping security agencies to protect schools and communities.
“The testimonies of survivors highlight not only the suffering endured during captivity, but also the profound challenges faced upon their return. These girls were failed twice,” said CEDAW Chair Nahla Haidar.
The report urged Nigeria to rescue remaining abductees, destigmatise survivors, and ensure proper rehabilitation, while strengthening police capacity to prevent future attacks.
