All children kidnapped by Boko Haram will be freed – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to secure the
freedom of all children and other victims abducted by Boko Haram in the
country.
The Nigerian leader who expressed the commitment of his
administration to secure the freedom of victims of Boko Haram at a High Level
Breakfast Dialogue on ‘‘Stop the War on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts,
Dividend of Silencing the Guns’’ (a side event during the 33rd AU Summit), also
outlined some concrete measures taken by Nigeria towards tackling the root
causes of child soldiers and the misfortune of out-of-school children.
Buhari urged African countries and stakeholders on the
continent to work towards strengthening the protection of children from the six
grave violations during armed conflict, as disclosed in a statement released by
Presidential Spokesperson Garba Shehu.
The violations include killing and maiming of children,
recruitment or use of children as soldiers, sexual violence against children,
abduction of children, attacks against schools or hospitals and denial of
humanitarian access for children. President Buhari expressed concern that these
grave violations against children have continued unabated.
He said;
”A number of schoolgirls from Chibok and Dapchi earlier
abducted by Boko Haram have regained their freedom.
”We commend the gallant efforts of the MultiNational Joint
Task Force and the partners in supporting the reintegration of the girls.
”Let me categorically reassure you of the steadfast
commitment of the Government of Nigeria to ensure the freedom of all kidnapped
children from the shackles of Boko Haram.
”We will not relent until every child, boy, or girl, every
Nigerian adult in custody of Boko Haram, is freed!
”It is for this reason that the Nigerian government has
severally condemned, and is combating frontally the dreadful activities of
terrorist groups like Boko Haram and the so-called Islamic State.”
On the violations against children, Buhari said: ”Of course,
the severity of these grave violations varies from country to country.
”The incidence of a single violation of children rights in
any country is an indelible dent on the African consciousness and is to be
deplored and condemned.
”To stem the tide of out-of-school children Nigeria embarked
on an all-inclusive reconstruction of schools vandalized by the ravaging
terrorist activities of Boko Haram, while returning children are rehabilitated
and reintegrated into society.
”Our Nomadic Education policy is also being implemented to
reduce the number of out-of-school children. We have also prioritized
de-radicalisation and demobilisation of ex-combatant children of Boko Haram
insurgents
”The call to action is now for accountability by all African
States to the rights of the children caught up in wars.
”Let us stop the war on children. This is a wake-up call for
us all to create the enabling environment for rooting out the impact of armed
conflicts against our children across the continent.”
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