The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has accused the federal government of turning a blind eye to the suffering of Nigerian children who are victims of conflicts in the North-East and other parts of the country.
According to UNICEF’s most recent report, 6,800 children in the North-East have suffered grave violations of their rights.
This was stated in a statement issued on Friday by UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, who noted that the statistics are disturbing and the reality is devastating.
Munduate said, “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 fulfil their potential.
The envoy bemoaned the brutal effects of conflict on children, nine years after 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped in Chibok, with 96 girls still held captive. The impact of the conflict on education is alarming, with ramifications that will likely affect generations, she says, emphasizing the “devastating reality” of it.
She explained that the recent abduction of 80 children in Zamfara State reinforces the urgent need for action to protect children in Nigeria.
She said, “The statistics are disturbing; the reality is devastating. It has been 9 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.
“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.
“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,” the statement added.
The UN body however, charged the government to rehabilitate all children encountered in the course of armed conflict or released from armed groups.