The Boko Haram terrorists group; has strategized to recruit child soldiers to replenish fighters killed in military counter-insurgency operations in Lake Chad region. The fresh recruitment exercise, was adopted in efforts to “resuscitate and replenish” Boko Haram fighters in lake’s border areas of Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria. In a statement Friday in N’Djamena, Chad, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Spokesman, Col. Timothy Antigha disclosed that; “The new strategy, was the introduction of child soldiers to fight in the Lake Chad Basin Areas.” He said information on adopted strategies, was to resuscitate Boko Haram declining influence in the ongoing Army counter-insurgency operations. According to him, the newest strategy is the introduction of Boko Haram child soldiers. “The disturbing development was brought in by human intelligence sources,” he said, adding that it was recently corroborated by individuals and groups in insurgency affected countries. He said that the terrorists had posted the pictures of recruited new child soldiers and dressed in military fatigue. “They were holding assault rifles in a video released during last Sallah celebrations,” he said; describing the recruitment exercise, as brutal and inhumane tactics deployed by the Boko Haram terrorists. Continued; “The terrorists began the futile attempt to cause mayhem and overthrow constitutional and social order in the insurgency affected four countries.” He added that they also engaged in mass abduction of school girls, with sexual enslavement of women and massive killings of civilians. On terrorists’ resort to child soldiers, he said; “The recent engagement of child soldiers to fight, was as result of frustrations caused by several operational losses. He added that leadership crises, as well as disillusionment among fighters and their subsequent massive surrender to MNJTF led to recruitment of child soldiers. End. The focus on children is because they are easier to manipulate and indoctrinate than the adults within the region who can now see through the veil of deceit. Arising from this latest atrocity by Boko Haram, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) urges parents, local authorities, religious and traditional institutions to be vigilant and promptly alert security agencies of any overt or covert attempts to recruit their children and wards. Furthermore, owing to the gale of disillusionment and surrender which have depleted the ranks of Boko Haram, youths are advised to be mindful of promises of power and influence, economic prosperity and spiritual growth. Boko Haram does not have any of these conditions to offer. The stories of hardship and evil within the terrorist organisations as revealed by all surrendered Boko Haram fighters should be sufficient notice that Boko Haram and ISWAP have nothing good to offer anyone. It would be recalled that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict forbids the recruitment and use of children in Armed Conflicts. The Protocol states among others that “Armed groups distinct from armed forces of a country should not, under any circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities anyone under 18”. It is against this background that the MNJTF is drawing the attention of the United Nations, its relevant agencies and other stakeholders to the latest acts of inhumanity and desperation by Boko Haram, and urges severe condemnation and other necessary action. “On our part, the MNJTF will continue with activities that are focused on the protection of children and other vulnerable groups within its area of operation’ the statement said.
