February 01, (THEWILL) – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has welcomed the release of four girls abducted by armed groups in Borno State.
THEWILL had reported that terror group, Boko Haram released four girls abducted in Kautikari village of Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.
The girls were among the 24 persons abducted when the terrorists attacked Kautikari and other surrounding villages of Chibok on January 14, 2022.
Reacting to the development, Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, in a statement issued and signed by the Communication Officer Borno State, Mrs Folashade Adebayo, called for the immediate release of all conflict-affected children held in captivity across the region.
“UNICEF is very relieved for the released girls and their families. After their harrowing experience, it is good news that the girls are back with their families and friends, where they belong. But sadly, dozens of children in north-east Nigeria remain in captivity; the victims of an armed conflict they have nothing to do with.
“This is unconscionable. Children have the right to a safe environment, health, education and freedom from abuse and torture – all of which remain compromised when they are in captivity.
“Children are not the spoils of conflict. All children in captivity must be immediately and safely released to their families”, said Hawkins.
According to the statement, children in Nigeria have continued to face unprecedented violations of their rights, including abductions, torture, killings, recruitment into armed groups, and forced marriages, among other abuses of their rights.
It added that in the north-east, more than 1,000 children have been abducted since 2014, with at least 100 still missing or unaccounted for.
Between December and July of last year, at least 1,450 children were abducted, most from their schools, across central and north-west regions of the country.
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