President Muhammadu Buhari says all the children who are being held by Boko Haram insurgents will be freed.
According to a statement on Monday by his aide, Garba Shehu, President Buhari spoke at a ‘high-level breakfast dialogue’ on ‘Stop the War on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts, Dividend of Silencing the Guns’, an event held on the sidelines of the ongoing 33rd African Union Summit.
The programme was co-sponsored by the Governments of Nigeria, Uganda and Norway, the AU Commission and Save the Children.
Speaking at the occasion, Buhari said: “A number of schoolgirls from Chibok and Dapchi earlier abducted by Boko Haram have regained their freedom. We commend the gallant efforts of the Multinational Joint Task Force and the partners in supporting the reintegration of the girls.
“Let me categorically reassure you of the steadfast commitment of the Government of Nigeria to ensure the freedom of all kidnapped children from the shackles of Boko Haram.
“We will not relent until every child, boy or girl, every Nigerian adult in custody of Boko Haram, is freed.”
The president urged African countries and stakeholders on the continent to work fervently towards strengthening the protection of children from the six grave violations during armed conflict.
According to him, the six grave violations are killing and maiming of children, recruitment or use of children as soldiers, sexual violence against children, abduction of children, attacks against schools or hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access for children.
He also outlined some measures taken by Nigeria towards tackling the root causes of child soldiers and the misfortune of out-of-school children.
“To stem the tide of out-of-school children Nigeria embarked on an all-inclusive reconstruction of schools vandalised by the ravaging terrorist activities of Boko Haram while returning children are rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.
“Our Nomadic Education policy is also being implemented to reduce the number of out-of-school children.
“We have also prioritised de-radicalisation and demobilisation of ex-combatant children of Boko Haram insurgents,” he said.
