Nigeria's Boko Haram forcibly sent 'abducted women, girls' to front line to fight military: Report

A report has revealed that Nigeria's Islamic militant group has forced abducted women and girls to go the front line and fight the military.

The group has abducted more than 500 women and girls since it began its insurgency in 2009, the Human Rights Watch said.

About 30 children were taken hostage by suspected militants on Thursday despite government claims of a truce, reported the BBC.

The militant group has declared caliphate in the areas under its control.Human Rights Watch said more than 500 women and girls have been abducted since the start of the insurgency in 2009, although other estimates put the figure in the high hundreds.

The women were made to cook, clean and perform household chores. Some were forced to carry stolen goods seized by the insurgents after attacks.

The report gives an insight into life for the kidnap victims, including those from Chibok.

One of the interviewees said she saw some of the Chibok girls forced to cook and clean for other women and girls who had been chosen for "special treatment" because of their beauty.

The women also talked about rape as well as physical violence, including one who said she had a noose placed around her neck and was threatened with death until she converted to Islam.

One girl of 15 said she complained that she was too young to marry one of the militants but a Boko Haram commander dismissed her concerns, saying his five-year-old daughter got married the previous year.

The group has used kidnapping as a tactic since the start of its insurgency in 2009 but Human Rights Watch said the authorities had done nothing to prevent it or bring those responsible to book.

Survivors were not receiving adequate support such as psychological and medical care after their release, said the body's Africa director, Daniel Bekele.