Insurgency and other nefarious crimes is growing and fast spreading all over the world. This is partly due to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and the spread of radical Islamic teachings.
This is typical of the Boko Haram insurgency in north eastern part of the country, banditary in the North -west, kidnapping, farmers/herders clashes and other acts of criminality in other parts of the nation.
As we are all aware, Boko Haram is an Islamic militant group based in North-Eastern Nigeria, which calls for the use of violence to ensure a return to the true practice of Islam with the ultimate goal of establishing an Islamic State.
Fundamentally, this group views that western education/civilisation is sinful, sacrilegious or ungodly and should be forbidden. The group thus calls for an outright rejection of western education, culture and modern science. It advocates the propagation of strict adherence to Islamic tenets in its purest form.
Recently too, the wave of insecurity in the South-East zone of the country has reached an alarming state, with blood chilling incidents of daylight killings.However, two States in the zone have taken the lead, with heightened state of insecurity. They are Imo and Anambra States.
While some of the cases of insecurity in both states can be attributed to cultism, the larger chunk of it is attributable to agitation for a separate State, as being championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The activities of these insurgents have various implications on women and children, as this vulnerable group of persons tend to suffer most from crisis of any kind. Women and children under the ages of eighteen (18 ) ,especially girls have been negatively impacted by the crisis in the form of lack of access to basic needs, sexual and gender based violence, sexual exploitation, abuse and abduction.
Their level of vulnerability is on the increase as most of them are widowed or single due to the high rate of men-killing in the course of the conflict and the detention of some men by the military for investigation purposes. Women now bear the responsibility of feeding their families.
The prevailing security situation and the resulting humanitarian crises in the Northeast have various economic, physical, and psychological impacts on women and children.
It becomes very important to consider our extant laws and international legal standards on the subject matter and make some recommendations – chiefly the domestication of the under listed protection laws by the affected states, and also the creation of awareness on the dangers of practices such as child labour, forced marriage, child marriage, survival sex etcetera.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is the major legislation that provides for the protection of all citizens of Nigeria. This is even as Nigeria is also signatory to many International and Regional Conventions on this subject matter.
There are other extant laws specifically governing the protection of women and children, particularly, the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and the Child Rights Act 2003 (operating at the Federal level). The Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill
While the women fold and mostly some Civil Society Organisations await a positive outcome, it is worthy of note however, that significant gaps exist in most of the affected states of the North East as regards these relevant legislations. The bitter truth remains that women and children will be better protected if these laws are domesticated and implemented.
Not quite long ago, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum made a shocking revelation that Boko Haram has caused the emergence of 59, 311 orphans whose fathers were killed and 59, 213 widows that lost their husbands to the insurgency in different parts of the state.
Let’s not forget that this figure is for Borno state alone. The point is this, what disturbing figure would we arrive at if we attempt to quantify the level of havoc done on the women fold and children sequel to activities of criminals and insurgents nationwide?
The governor who was a guest lecturer at the National Defense College, in Abuja, was quoted to have reeled out the figure when he delivered a paper with titled, “Strategic leadership: The challenges of Insurgency in Borno State”.
The United Nations and International aid agencies say women are among the worst victims of insecurity. They disclose that tens of thousands suffer from sexual violence, rape, and lack of access to life-saving health care.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that pregnant women in war zones who face serious medical emergencies and need immediate care too often are unable to reach a health care facility.
And again, remember that women’s mobility can also be restricted during a conflict because of the threat of violence or the result of cultural restrictions.
Sadly, in spite of this heinous crimes against innocent women, children and humanity, not one member of Boko Haram nor arrested bandits have been prosecuted for sexual violence to date Instead, the federal government has consistently granted amnesty to perpetrators of these heinous and soul wrecking crimes whom government now tag as “repentant members of Boko Haram” .
The federal government seems to be ignoring the fact that justice requires accountability for their crimes, including those that are gender-based.
It is worth noting that the protocols and laws needed to do this are already in place. A core strategic objective under Pillar 3 of Nigeria’s second National Action Plan (2017-2020) for the Implementation of 1325 and related resolutions is the protection of women’s and girls’ rights and security and prosecution of violators of such rights.
Nigeria has also ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), enacted the Child Rights Act (CRA) and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
Recall that before the Chibok girls were kidnapped, Boko Haram killed at least twenty-nine (29) male students at the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, in Yobe state.
Aside this, men and boys have been abducted, killed, or forcibly conscripted by Boko Haram. While the women folk, are no doubt, exposed to danger.
LEADERSHIP Sunday writes that the change the tide, government must address the root cause of this anomaly and not just the symptoms. stakeholderd must go back to the drawing board, reassess the nation’s value system, emphasise moral values and uphold the sanctity of human life. Importantly, they must assemble as soon as possible, the thought leaders, political, traditional, women, and youth leaders need to come together and re-evaluate their moral code. They must take steps to arrest this development before it consumes us all.
