UNICEF alerts 6,800 children are violated 2,295 teachers killed, 910 schools destroyed
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Gross violations of human rights are being inflicted on more than 6,800 children in North East Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has alerted.
UNICEF representative in Nigeria Cristian Munduate lamented the grave consequences of conflict on children nine years after Boko haram abducted 276 schoolgirls from Chibok with 96 of them still remaining in captivity.
She said the impact of the conflict on education is alarming and the repercussions likely to affect generations are “devastating reality.”
The recent abduction of 80 children in Zamfara reinforces the urgent need for action to protect children in Nigeria, Munduate pressed in Abuja.
“The statistics are disturbing; the reality is devastating. It has been nine years since the horrendous abduction of the Chibok girls, yet the nightmare continues as children are still being kidnapped, forcibly recruited, killed and injured– their futures torn away,” she lamented.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of Nigeria’s children. We must do everything in our power to ensure they grow up in safety, with access to education and the opportunity to fulfil their potential.”
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2,295 teachers killed, 910 schools destroyed
“Since 2014, there have been over 2,400 incidents of grave violations verified, affecting over 6,800 children in the North-East,” Munduate said, per The PUNCH.
“The most common violations are recruitment or use of children by armed groups with 700 verified cases, followed by abductions of children, with 693 incidents, and killing and maiming, with 675 incidents.
“Between 2009 and 2022, around 2,295 teachers were reportedly killed in attacks, over 19,000 teachers were displaced, more than 1,500 schools closed because of insecurity, and 910 schools were destroyed.”
UNICEF implored the government to rehabilitate all children encountered in the course of armed conflict or released from armed groups.