The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has decried rising cases of sexual abuse and violence against women and girls in Benue State’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
At a Focus Group Discussion on child protection, held in partnership with the JASPI Health and Gender Initiative, UNICEF representatives revealed that several displaced girls have suffered sexual exploitation.
Phoebe Nyiekaa, a caseworker from JASPI, disclosed she was handling a rape case involving an IDP teenager, stressing that urgent psychosocial support is needed.
UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office said its ongoing interventions aim to create safe spaces, raise awareness about abuse, and connect survivors with essential services.
The agency also called for stronger local collaboration to prevent gender-based violence, which has worsened amid insecurity and displacement across the Middle Belt.
The meeting emphasized that protection, education, and rehabilitation must go hand-in-hand to rebuild dignity and hope for affected girls in crisis-torn communities.
