Nigerian children are targets of schools attacks, kidnaps, rape and recruitment
Children in conflicts, Safe schools
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Children in northeastern Nigeria are being subjected to school attacks, abductions, forced recruitment, rape and other sexual violence.
And the scale of violations against children is so extreme that urgent action is needed by the Nigerian government, the United Nations and other agencies to protect them, a report has revealed.
鶹APP an international network of human rights and humanitarian non-government organisations 鶹APP yesterday produced the 64-page report titled . The report looked at incidents dating back to the start of current conflict in December 2012, including the kidnapping the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram.
Watchlist said more than three million children have had their lives disrupted by the conflict.
Researcher Janine Morna said: 鶹APPWhile the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok, Borno State, has shed some light on how children are affected by the conflict in the northeast, most abuses are still poorly documented, understood and addressed by key actors.鶹APP
Watchlist researched attacks on schools in the region which 鶹APP according to its survey 鶹APP has resulted in the death, injury or abduction of at least 414 students, teachers or other civilians on school premises between January 2012 and July 2014.
Ms Morna added: 鶹APPContinuous attacks on schools have devastated education in the region, creating a climate of fear for students and teachers, and leading to school closures from as early as April 2013. Relevant actors must bolster school security through programmes like the Safe Schools Initiative.鶹APP
The was launched by Nigerian business leaders working with the , the and A World at School. It aims to ensure Nigerian schools are safe from attacks.
The Watchlist report features a graphic account by a 13-year-old boy of an attack on his school, the Federal Government College Buni Yadi in Yobe State.
He said: 鶹APPWe were sleeping in the hostel. We heard the gun shots. I woke up from sleeping 鶹APP 10 boys were in the room 鶹APP I went out of the room 鶹APP I was running 鶹APP I was feeling afraid鶹APP I had gotten out of the room and I was shot at in the leg 鶹APP
鶹APPThe person pointed a gun at me鶹APP I fell down鶹APP I was hit with two bullets on my left foot 鶹APP I pretended like I died鶹APP because if I didn鶹APPt pretend they would shoot me again 鶹APP
鶹APPI felt like 30 minutes 鶹APP When the people were not at the place I woke up. I woke up and entered the room again. The students that didn鶹APPt die鶹APP I said if they are able to run, let us run.鶹APP
Watchlist said it is particularly concerning that children are being forced to spy or help armed attacks by Boko Haram and the Civilian Joint Task Force, a militia formed in mid-2013 in Borno state.
Ms Morna said: 鶹APPChildren as young as 13 are being recruited by both sides of the conflict and have nowhere to turn.鶹APP
She said Nigerian security forces who encounter child soldiers in Boko Haram鶹APPs ranks often detain these children in unofficial military detention facilities known for the mistreatment of detainees, instead of protecting and rehabilitating them in accordance with international standards.
She added: 鶹APPThe government of Nigeria should denounce the recruitment of children by all armed groups, take immediate steps to release child soldiers in their custody, and develop procedures to transfer child soldiers to civilian actors.
鶹APPThe humanitarian response to violations against children has been slow, fragmented, and unable to meet the fast-growing needs of those affected by the conflict.
鶹APPThe Nigerian Government, United Nations and non-governmental agencies must take urgent steps to recruit experts with experience operating in a conflict situation and scale up programming to support some of Nigeria鶹APPs most vulnerable and marginalised children.鶹APP
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