Boko Haram affects over 41% children in the North East – NEMA

Boko Haram affects over 41% children in the North East – NEMA

Over 41 per cent children have been affected by insurgency in the North-East and while about 891,000 adults are in camps while over 100,000 others are dissolved into the host communities.

These figures were given by the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi, when the Special Representatives of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms Leila Zerrugui, visited him to enquire the condition and treatment of children affected by terrorists.

Sidi said the Nigerian government has ensured that children continue their education under Safe School Initiative and special attention had been paid to the children, elderly and nursing mothers, who are the vulnerable groups in the conflict.

He said that President Goodluck Jonathan has directed security agencies to keep an eye on the Internally Displayed Persons (IDP) especially on the children, women and the vulnerable to the effect that there is no record of rape and abuse of children.

Earlier, Zerrugi said she came to find out the treatment of children in the armed conflict. According to her, children suffer violations during armed conflicts such as recruitment into the conflict, maiming, detention and death.

“People are suffering in the North-East and many people are concerned about the situation. All of us will want Nigeria to be one. We will like to have you have peace”, she said.

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