Amnesty International’s research further revealed that hundreds of women along with their children have been held in the notorious Giwa Barracks detention centre since 2015. While most pf them have been released, an unspecified number of them still remain in military detention.

Many of those detained since 2015 have been victims of abductions or forced marriages by Boko Haram and were detained by the military for being so-called “Boko Haram wives” instead of being rescued.

AI says it received five reports about sexual violence in Giwa barracks, while seven women said they gave birth inside their dirty, overcrowded cells without any medical assistance. At least 32 babies and children, and five women, have died in detention since 2016.

    “The detention of women and girls on the basis that they were allegedly married to Boko Haram members is unlawful under international human rights law and Nigerian law, and is discriminatory,” said Osai Ojigho.