Sexual Slavery and Insurgency in Nigeria: Combating the Hurdles of Prosecution

Abstract

Nigeria has in recent years, recorded an increased number of cases of sexual violence in armed conflict, mainly within the Northern region of the country. This is mainly a result of the activities of the Boko Haram armed group, with so much destructive effect on women and girls within that region.  This paper examines the surge of sexual violence during armed conflict in Northern Nigeria, primarily driven by Boko Haram’s war, its psychological and physical toll on women and girls, and the persistent failure of the Nigerian legal system to hold perpetrators accountable. The authors further argue that this failure stems from outdated laws, lack of political will, and the absence of specialized legal frameworks. They assert that this impunity emboldens continued violence. The paper concludes that Nigeria must urgently reform its legal system to criminalize conflict-related sexual violence and establish special courts for effective prosecution, thus, ensuring justice for victims and survivors and by extension deterring future violations. 

Keywords: Sexual Slavery, Hurdles, Prosecution, Insurgency, Legal framework