Women and girls from Kajuru Local Government in Kaduna State have disclosed being subjected to sexual violence during captivity by bandits, describing rape as a deliberate tactic used to enforce compliance. The survivors, aged 16 to about 50, were abducted from their communities and held for periods ranging from one to six months in separate camps where men and women were detained apart. They reported that bandits threatened to kill their husbands if they resisted sexual demands, with some later learning their spouses had already been murdered. Sexual abuse occurred alongside ransom negotiations, with families paying between N1 million and N5 million, sometimes including motorcycles, for release—though two 16-year-old girls were released without ransom after being assaulted for two days. Some victims returned home pregnant, as no preventive measures were taken by attackers, who included young men reportedly as young as 17. Survivors said many remain silent after freedom due to fear of stigma, discrimination, and rejection in their communities. They emphasized the need for safe reporting channels, medical care, psychosocial support, and legal assistance as essential parts of addressing the hidden consequences of abduction. Their accounts spotlight how sexual violence is being used systematically not only for abuse but also as a method of intimidation and coercion in bandit-held camps.
The bandits are using sexual violence as a calculated means of control, not just opportunistic assault, given the pattern of threats tied to family members' lives. This shifts the harm beyond physical trauma to long-term psychological and social destabilization of survivors and their communities. Without formal documentation or intervention records cited, the extent of institutional response remains unclear.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
