Community leaders, lawyers, and government officials in Borno State have expressed serious concern over widespread teenage pregnancy and dangerous, illegal abortions in camps for people displaced by conflict.
This issue was discussed at a two-day meeting in Maiduguri, organized by the Grassroots Researchers Association (GRA) with support from the group “We are not Weapons of War.” The meeting brought together 500 survivors of sexual violence, traditional rulers, lawyers, officials, and aid groups to find lasting solutions.
A community leader, Mr. John Gwoma, who chairs an IDP camp in the Jerusalem area of Maiduguri, described a troubling situation. He stated that men from the city arrive in cars to exploit underage girls, leading to many pregnancies.
“As a result, we now have many cases of unsafe abortions in the camp,” he said.
“The female toilets have become like butcher shops, often covered in blood. The girls go in, end their pregnancies, and leave the foetus inside.”
Another speaker, Zaynab Abdallah, confirmed the problem is widespread in Maiduguri. She explained that many teenage girls turn to prostitution to earn money to feed their families.
She also blamed some parents, saying, “Most parents are fully aware of what their children are doing, but they stay quiet because of the money or goods the girls bring home.” She added that for these girls, “sex has become a normal part of life,” and when they get pregnant, they abort secretly to avoid the shame.
During the meeting, survivors and others shared painful stories of rape and how poverty is forcing women and girls into sex work.
They also shared positive stories about how awareness campaigns by GRA have helped reduce stigma and improved survivors’ access to justice.
The Executive Director of GRA, Mr. Friday Bitrus, said the feedback from the meeting will be used to create a formal call for action and to push for new policies to address the crisis.
