Boko Haram militants in northeast Nigeria have
sent out four times as many child suicide bombers this year as they used
in all of 2016, the United Nations Children’s Fund said on Tuesday.
Eighty-three
children had been used as bombers since Jan. 1, 2017, UNICEF said. Of
those, 55 were girls, mostly under 15 years old and 27 were boys. One
was a baby strapped to a girl. Nineteen children were used last year,
UNICEF said.
children had been used as bombers since Jan. 1, 2017, UNICEF said. Of
those, 55 were girls, mostly under 15 years old and 27 were boys. One
was a baby strapped to a girl. Nineteen children were used last year,
UNICEF said.
The Boko Haram insurgency, now in
its eighth year, has claimed over 20,000 lives and forced more than two
million people to flee their homes over eight years.
its eighth year, has claimed over 20,000 lives and forced more than two
million people to flee their homes over eight years.
The
frequency of suicide bomb attacks in northeastern Nigeria has increased
in the past few weeks, killing at least 170 people since June 1,
according to a Reuters tally.
frequency of suicide bomb attacks in northeastern Nigeria has increased
in the past few weeks, killing at least 170 people since June 1,
according to a Reuters tally.
UNICEF, in a
statement released on Tuesday, said it was “extremely concerned about an
appalling increase in the cruel and calculated use of children,
especially girls, as ‘human bombs’ in northeast Nigeria. The use of
children in this way is an atrocity”.
statement released on Tuesday, said it was “extremely concerned about an
appalling increase in the cruel and calculated use of children,
especially girls, as ‘human bombs’ in northeast Nigeria. The use of
children in this way is an atrocity”.
Boko
Haram is trying to create an Islamic state in the Lake Chad region,
which spans parts of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. It gained
notoriety by abducting more than 200 girls from the northeast Nigerian
town of Chibok in April 2014. Aid groups say it has kidnapped thousands
more adults and children.
Haram is trying to create an Islamic state in the Lake Chad region,
which spans parts of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. It gained
notoriety by abducting more than 200 girls from the northeast Nigerian
town of Chibok in April 2014. Aid groups say it has kidnapped thousands
more adults and children.
Children who escape
are often held by authorities or ostracised by their communities and
families. Nigerian aid worker Rebecca Dali, who runs an agency that
offers counselling for those who were abducted, said children as young
as four were among the 209 escapees her organisation had helped since
2015.
are often held by authorities or ostracised by their communities and
families. Nigerian aid worker Rebecca Dali, who runs an agency that
offers counselling for those who were abducted, said children as young
as four were among the 209 escapees her organisation had helped since
2015.
“They (former abductees) are highly
traumatised,” Dali told Reuters on Monday at the United Nations in
Geneva, where she received an award from the Sergio Vieira de Mello
Foundation for her humanitarian work.
traumatised,” Dali told Reuters on Monday at the United Nations in
Geneva, where she received an award from the Sergio Vieira de Mello
Foundation for her humanitarian work.
Her team, which includes former police officers, identified some returnees as having been trained as suicide bombers.
“There
were two girls taught by Boko Haram to be suicide bombers … The girls
confirmed that they were taught that their life was not worth living,
that if they die detonating the bomb and killing a lot of people, then
their lives will be profitable,” Dali said.
were two girls taught by Boko Haram to be suicide bombers … The girls
confirmed that they were taught that their life was not worth living,
that if they die detonating the bomb and killing a lot of people, then
their lives will be profitable,” Dali said.
Some
450,000 children are also at risk of life-threatening malnutrition in
2017 by the end of the year in northeast Nigeria, UNICEF said.
450,000 children are also at risk of life-threatening malnutrition in
2017 by the end of the year in northeast Nigeria, UNICEF said.
Nigerian
President, Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday the country would “reinforce
and reinvigorate” its fight against the group following the latest wave
of attacks.
President, Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday the country would “reinforce
and reinvigorate” its fight against the group following the latest wave
of attacks.
Analysts say the Boko Haram faction
led by Abubakar Shekau may have been paid ransom by the government to
gain the release of 82 of the Chibok girls in May, which then was used
to buy weapons and recruit fighters. The government did not disclose
details of the negotiations. (Reuters)
led by Abubakar Shekau may have been paid ransom by the government to
gain the release of 82 of the Chibok girls in May, which then was used
to buy weapons and recruit fighters. The government did not disclose
details of the negotiations. (Reuters)
Source: The Precision
Donate to Precision
