…..seeks urgent actions to protect children

Nine years after Boko Haram terrorists abducted 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has lamented the continued violations of children’s rights in the north-eastern region of Nigeria.

On the night of April 14, 2014, the adolescent school girls were kidnapped by the Islamic terrorist group from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, a small town in Borno State.

Marking nine years since the attack on Friday, April 14, UNICEF said “the statistics are disturbing, the reality is devastating” for children in the region.

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This was disclosed in a statement by UNICEF representative, Christian Munduate, on Friday.

“It has been nine years since the horrendous abduction of the Chibok girls, yet the nightmare continues as children are still being kidnapped, forcibly recruited, killed and injured – their futures torn away.

“Nine years after 276 schoolgirls were abducted in the middle of the night from their dormitory in Chibok, Nigeria, 96 girls remain in captivity, and thousands more children have been subjected to grave violations of their rights,” the statement said.

UNICEF noted that children are still being kidnapped in Nigeria’s North-East.

“As recently as 7 April 2023, 80 children were reportedly abducted by militants in Zamfara State’s Tsafe Local Government Area according to local media.

“Since 2014, there have been over 2,400 incidents of grave violations verified, affecting over 6,800 children in the North-East.”

The UN agency further observed that the most common violations are recruitment or use of children by armed groups “with 700 verified cases, followed by abductions of children, with 693 incidents, and killing and maiming, with 675 incidents”.

“This reinforces the urgent need for action to protect children in Nigeria” the statement added.

Bringbackourgirls campaign

The abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls triggered the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, launched by a group of citizens advocating for the rescue of the schoolgirls.

According to the group, the last report on the status of the Chibok Girls in October 2022 showed that 107 victims have been released by the terrorists, while 57 girls escaped from their den. The military rescued 16 while 96 are still missing