MARGARET CHIDERA
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has lamented that about nine years after 276 schoolgirls were abducted in the middle of the night from their dormitory in Chibok, Nigeria, 96 girls remain in captivity while many others have been subjected to grave violations of their rights.
In a release to mark the ninth year anniversary of the abducted schoolgirls, the UN body noted that its beyond time that the Nigerian authorities take meaningful action to counter armed groups.
The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, quoting local media, lamented that as recently as April 7, 2023, over 80 children were reportedly abducted by militants in Zamfara State’s Tsafe Local Government Area.
She said that the development reinforces a need for urgent action to protect children in Nigeria.
She said: “The statistics are disturbing; the reality is devastating. 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.
“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.”
Since 2014, there have been over 2,400 incidents of grave violations verified, affecting over 6,800 children in the North-East.
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.
The impact of the conflict on education is alarming, with repercussions that will likely affect generations.
The Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TCN), reports that between 2009 and 2022, around 2,295 teachers were reportedly killed in attacks, over 19,000 teachers were displaced, more than 1,500 schools closed because of insecurity, and 910 schools were destroyed.
However, the UN body noted that it welcomes the Government of Nigeria’s signing of the UNICEF-supported handover protocol and its commitment to invest N144.8 billion ($314.5 million) towards the Safe Schools Financing Plan in 2022 and stands ready to support the Government in its implementation to ensure that all children encountered in the course of armed conflict in Nigeria or released from armed groups are quickly reunited with their families and benefit from reintegration programmes.
UNICEF Nigeria, therefore, called on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law and protect the rights and well-being of children.
The UN body reaffirmed its commitment to working with the government and partners, to ensure that every child in Nigeria can enjoy their rights and live in a peaceful and prosperous society.
