Violent Conflicts (Boko Haram): Boko Haram is an Islamist extremist group based in Nigeria, whose main purpose is to oppose western teaching and culture like the promotion of education for girls as evil. This terrorist group (coined in 2013) has in the last 8 years killed over 20,000 civilians in Nigeria and neighboring countries. Additionally, Boko Haram has targeted schoolchildren as the victims of kidnappings and violence. Over 500 children have been kidnapped by Boko Haram with the intent of targeting western education, some of these children still missing. Unfortunately, even with the Nigerian army opposing Boko Haram civilians are still greatly affected by this conflict, especially with the increased use of women and children as suicide bombers in urban centers. These women and children were also kidnapped with the intent of using them as tools for their extremism. Boko Haram has continued to retain some territory and continues its violent campaign, especially in the northeast of Nigeria, and the conflict is still very much alive in the entirety of the country today.
Public Sector Corruption: In the past year multiple high level government officials have been caught either laundering money or having committed corruption. Both the Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal and National Intelligence Agency head, Ayodele Oke had been found allegedly corrupt. Public funds are being hidden from public view and used unlawfully as well. Additionally, there is a high level of political interference (bribery, inefficiency, corruption) within the judicial system, leaving those judgements morally and ethically questionable. Businesses have little faith in the judicial system to solve regulation issues as well and have little faith within the police force, who is considered the most corrupt institution in Nigeria. Often, the problems with the police, businesses and citizens are down to undue use of bribery, robbery, and torture. It is alleged that the Nigerian police force has been systematically torturing detainees for confessions, money and/or property.
Sexual and Gender Oppression: In Nigeria the abuse of LGBTQ citizens has not only been a societal theme but also promoted by the ruling government. With the passage of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA) in 2014, the ability of those same LGBTQ people to express themselves and live safely has been trampled on. Engaging in same-sex acts carries a 14 year prison sentence, as does carnal knowledge of such. Additionally, gender-based violence, most often directed at women and girls has been a disconcerting ongoing problem in Nigeria. 3 in 10 women have experienced sexual violence by the age of 15. Issues like female genital mutilation, (even with its outlaw) have run rampant in the country. The rationalization of female genital mutilation has allowed this harrowing practice to continue to occur, even with the outlawing of the act itself: those who choose to commit this practice are doing it to oppress the girls and women being subjected. The goal of FGM is to remove the female sexual pleasure in order to make her more submissive to the male. This practice and other gender or sexuality based violence are large human rights violations and must be stopped.
Sources: