By Edoamaowo Udeme
Nigerian Army has freed 223 children including 10 girls who were adults, from its administrative custody and Maiduguri Maximum Security Prison after they were cleared of suspected ties with armed groups.
According to released report, they were released to the safe hands of UNICEF, Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and Borno State authorities in Maiduguri, north-east Nigeria
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative, in his statememt noted that the release of these children is a huge step forward and one to be welcomed and celebrated.
“These children deserve to have a normal childhood – and now require our full care and support to re-enter the lives that were so brutally interrupted by this devastating conflict.”
“The children will now immediately enter a programme that will help them reintegrate into their communities, re-engage with their families, and take the first steps towards creating a new life and means of livelihood”.
Some of the children had been missing for up to four to five years, with many presumed dead by their families.
Now in its tenth year, the conflict in north-east Nigeria continues to uproot and devastate the lives of tens of thousands of children, women and men.
It has been noted that since 2016, 3,559 peopleassociated with armed groupshave beenreleased from administrative custody, including 1,743children (1,125 boys, 618 girls).
“All have gone through the Bulumkutu Rehabilitation Center in Maiduguri in Borno State and have since been reunited with their families or placed in the most appropriate alternative care, where they are accessing rehabilitation services and reintegration support in their communities”.
“UNICEF is working closely with Nigerian state authorities to help with reintegration programmes for all children formerly associated with non-state armed groups, and others affected by the ongoing conflict in north-east Nigeria”. Hawkins stressed
“Age and sex appropriate community-based reintegration interventions include an initial assessment of their well-being, psychosocial support, education, vocational training, informal apprenticeships, and opportunities to improve livelihoods” added the report.
“At least 12,264 people formerly associated with armed groups, as well as vulnerable children in communities, have accessed such services since 2017”
UNICEF and Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development are looking forward to receiving more children.
Since 2012, non-state armed groups in north-east Nigeria have recruited and used children as combatants and non-combatants, raped and forced girls to marry, and committed other grave violations against children. Some of the girls become pregnant in captivity and give birth without any medical care or attention.
