The Dark Reality: Girls Exploited as Suicide Bombers and Sex Slaves in Nigeria
The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has reported that terrorists in Nigeria, particularly Boko Haram and its factions, have increasingly used young girls as suicide bombers and sex slaves.
This reflects the gender-based violence endemic within Boko Haram’s operations.
Girls, often abducted from schools or villages, are subjected to brutal treatment, including forced marriages, sexual slavery, and coercion into violent roles.
Over time, female suicide bombers have become a significant tactic for the group, with women making up the majority of bombers used by Boko Haram in recent years.