Borno requests UN to delist Nigeria from countries using child soldiers as over 1,700 civilian
JTF children fighters released
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| A child soldier |
Borno
State Government has called on the United Nation Security Council to delist
Nigeria from the list of countries using child soldiers in armed conflict.
Deputy Solicitor General of Borno State Ministry of Justice Barrister
Abdullahi Hussaini Izge who is also the Project Coordinator Civilian JTF MoU Action Plan in Borno State said
with screening and release of over 1,700 children under the ages of 18 from the
ranks of CJT, Nigeria should not be regarded as a country using underage
children in armed conflict.
Justifying his position, Barr. Izge explained
that the first list of 12th
October 2018, had a total of 833 children separated from the ranks of the CJTF
with support from Search For Common Ground (SFCG), an International NGO, while today Friday 10th May 2019, another
group of 894 children within the ranks of CJTF from 3 Sectors of the CJTF
within Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere LGA were separated and
released while the exercise continues in other 9 Local Government Areas
immediately after the ceremony”.
According to him, the exercise is
still also ongoing in other 13 LGAs of the state while demanding
for an extension of the dateline for the completion of the exercise.
ALSO READ: https://thenationonlineng.net/borno-to-un-delist-nigeria-from-countries-using-child-soldiers/
Izge appreciated and commended the
support and efforts of the UN and other development partners as well as the
international NGOs for providing both human and material resources
towards achieving the successes recorded in the implementation of the Action
Plan.
He further commended the
efforts and support of the Borno State Government for providing an enabling
environment to the UN agencies and other development partners to implementing the Action Plan and her continuous support to the CJTF in the fight
against Boko Haram insurgency.
The Project Coordinator did not fail
to praise the efforts, commitments and sacrifices of the
CJTF in assisting the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies in the fight against the insurgents. He also
commended the sincerity of the leader of CJT in cooperating and participating fully in the
screening and documentation exercise of the under aged children across
the state.
The Country Representative UNICEF
Nigeria Mohammed Fall promised that UNICEF will continue to support and
collaborate with other development partners and UN agencies for the protection of children. He equally commended the CJTF and BOSG for their support and
cooperation in the implementation of the Action Plan .
Mr. Fall disclosed that UNICEF remained committed to collaborating with other authorities to provide education to
the children as children belong to the schools not the streets or homes.
UN Swiss Ambassador to
Nigeria, Mr. George Steiner in his remarks said UN is delighted with the formal release of the children, adding
that it’s a good evidenced of hope and legality for the
children future in the country. He congratulated the children and the CJTF and all other partners and agencies
involved in the exercise.
He also noted that the UN remained committed to supporting conflicts population in the Lake Chad
Region.
In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno, HRH, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai
Ibn El Kanemi who was represented by the
Waziri of Borno, Alhaji Yerima Mustapha Mukhtar condemned as an immoral act for under aged children to be
involved in the fight against any conflict.
He however urged the CJTF to sustain their support to the security agencies in the fight against
insurgency in the state just as he
appealed to the public to
continue to render useful information to security agencies to enable them
succeed in the fight.
The Royal father also thanked UNICEF for supporting and promoting children immunization,
education and other healthcare services in the state, while assuring of
his continuous support.
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