State Of Children In The North East Of Nigeria

9 years ago

State Of Children In The North East Of Nigeria

Today, protection of children is one of the key issues of international law and human rights organizations all over the world. First of all the governments of all countries should take care of that part of their society, which is exposed to the threat to the fullest extent – children. But, unfortunately sometimes the state can’t give peace to children. We are talking about areas where high activity is shown by terrorist groups. The conflict between the armed group Boko Haram, Nigerian security forces, and civilian self-defence militias (Civilian JTF), is ravaging Nigeria’s fragile northeast.

This month a network of international non-governmental organizations, the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict published a report entitled “WHO WILL CARE FOR US? Grave Violations against Children in Northeastern Nigeria”.
Teenage scout, killed by Boko Haram sect, is being buried. Photo: watchlist.org
Between March and May 2014, its experts conducted a six-week research mission to Nigeria.

Watchlist documented grave violations through interviews with: (1) children and young people who had been abducted, raped, attacked at schools, or maimed during an attack, (2) families whose children were survivors of such violations including arbitrary detention, and (3) human rights defenders, drivers who operate in the states of emergency, and witnesses present during attacks.
The report reflected the following problems:
Attacks on schools
Nigerian orphans learn news from a newspaper. Photo: watchlist.org
Boko Haram carries out well-planned, coordinated, routine attacks on primary and secondary schools in northern Nigeria. Between 2012 and 2014, the group burned down hundreds of school buildings, threatened and killed teachers, and abducted and killed students.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened teachers and students and warned against attendance in secular schools. In one of his speeches he stated:
“If [Nigerian security forces] are going to places of worship and destroying them, like mosques and Quranic schools, you have primary schools as well, you have secondary schools and universities and we will start bombing them … Touch us and see. That is what we will do.”
Boys in class of a school in the North East. Photo: watchlist.org
According to Amnesty International, at least 70 teachers and 100 schoolchildren were killed or wounded between 2012 and September 2013. However, this year can be even more bloody.