BBC Copyright: BBC The women travelled from Borno State to the capital, Abuja, for the hearing Image caption: The women travelled from Borno State to the capital, Abuja, for the hearing

Some women from north-east Nigeria have testified before a presidential panel investigating alleged human rights violations by the country’s military in the fight against the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The women, most of them from Bama area in Borno State, told how their husbands were rounded up indiscriminately by the military in the last couple of years.

Some of them told the panel that they have not seen or heard about their husbands since they were seized about three years ago.

One of them, Yakura Haji Babagana, appealed to the authorities to release her husband if he was alive.

BBC Copyright: BBC Yakura Haji Babagana says her life has become incredibly difficult Image caption: Yakura Haji Babagana says her life has become incredibly difficult

She says her family has been in a miserable state since his arrest and some of the their children have died.

Another woman, Hafsat Palnami, brought along her 24-year-old son, who she said had been tortured by the military while in detention.

BBC Copyright: BBC Hafsat Palnami (R) says her son (L) is unable to walk and talk after his ordeal Image caption: Hafsat Palnami (R) says her son (L) is unable to walk and talk after his ordeal

She said he was detained for more than three years before being "dumped" in a hospital in the city of Maiduguri where his family later found him with some of his toes missing.

BBC Copyright: BBC Hafsat Palnami's son lost some of his toes while in detention Image caption: Hafsat Palnami's son lost some of his toes while in detention

She says since his release about six months ago, he has been unable to talk and walk, and his hearing and sight have also been impaired.

Those who appeared before the panel today in the capital, Abuja, said they believed their relations were not Boko Haram members.

The investigative panel was set up by the Nigerian presidency to look into allegations of human rights violations following reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch accusing the military of extra-judicial killings, torture and forced disappearances of thousands of civilians.

The military has always denied allegations of human rights abuses in its fight against Boko Haram.

The committee, which has been touring Nigeria's regions to hear complaints of rights abuses, is expected to finish its assignment and submit its report in the coming weeks.