In commemoration of five years anniversary since the abduction of Chibok girls, UNICEF has revealed that more than 3,500 children, most of whom were aged 13 to 17, were recruited by non-state armed groups between 2013 and 2017 and have been used in the on-going armed conflict in north-east Nigeria, and also urged the protection’s rights.
In statement made available to the media, the UN children’s agency said that these numbers are only those that have been verified, while the true figures are likely to be higher.
In addition to these children, 432 children were killed and maimed, 180 were abducted, and 43 girls were sexually abused in north-east Nigeria in 2018. Meanwhile, more than 100 of the abducted Chibok girls remain missing.
The anniversary of the abduction, marked on 14 April, is a grim reminder that widespread abductions of children and grave violations of children’s rights continue to take place in the north-east.
“Children should feel safe at home, in schools and on their playgrounds at all times,” said Mohamed Malick Fall, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.
“We are calling on the parties to the conflict to fulfil their obligations under international law to end violations against children and to stop targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools. This is the only way we can begin to make lasting improvements in the lives of children in this devastated part of Nigeria.”
Since 2012, non-state armed groups in north-east Nigeria have recruited and used children as combatants and non-combatants, raped and forced girls to marry, and committed other grave violations against children. Some of the girls become pregnant in captivity and give birth without any medical care or attention.
Last Saturday, members of the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) advocacy group, in a sit-out held to honour the Chibok school girls still in captivity in Lagos, demanded the release of the remaining girls still held in the captivity of the terrorist group and also asking the Federal Government to make schools in the northeast safe.
Reacting to this, President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement on Saturday renewed his vow to ensure the release of the remaining Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu in Boko Haram’s territory.
Desmond Okon
