Chibok girls: UN, again raises concerns over escalation of violence in North East

Adeze Ojukwu

United Nations(UN), has once again raised alarm over escalation of terrorist activities in the North East.

“About 80 children were abducted by militants in the Tsafe Local Government Area in Zamfara state.”

The UN children’s agency (UNICEF), which raised the alarm on Friday, said ‘nearly a decade after Boko Haram militants abducted 276 schoolgirls from their dormitory in Chibok, northeast Nigeria, 96 remain in captivity.”

Despite global condemnation and concern, the region remains a nightmare, with escalation of violence, numerous killings, abductions, rape and raids by gun men.

Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, said the “nightmare” continues today, as “many children are still being kidnapped, forcibly recruited, killed and injured.”

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of Nigeria’s children. We must do everything in our power to ensure they grow up in safety, with access to education and the opportunity to fulfill their potential,” he said in a statement.

Since 2014, there have been over 2,400 verified incidents of grave violations affecting 6,800 children in northeast Nigeria, UNICEF reported.

“The most common concern is recruitment by armed groups, followed by abductions, and killing and maiming.

The conflict has had an alarming impact on education, and UNICEF warned that the repercussions will likely affect generations.

“Between 2009 and 2022, roughly 2,295 teachers were reportedly killed in attacks, and more than 19,000 were displaced, according to the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TCN).”

“Additionally, more than 1,500 schools closed, and 910 were destroyed, due to insecurity.”

UNICEF said it “welcomed the Government’s signing of an agency-supported protocol on the handover of children encountered in the course of armed conflict, as well as its commitment to invest more than $314 million towards a financing plan on school safety.”

The handover protocol, signed last September, aims to prevent or reduce the detention of children encountered by military and security forces.

Under the agreement, children allegedly associated with armed groups will be transferred to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development within a period of seven days.

UNICEF called on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law, and to protect the rights and well-being of children.

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