Killing Of Children By Boko Haram: Government Not Doing Enough, Say Groups

Two child’s right organizations, Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (AFRUCA-UK) and the Centre  for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE Nigeria) have strongly criticized the Federal Government for what they describe as ‘negligence and indifference’ in the growing number of cases of killings, especially of children and young students in Northern Nigeria in recent times.

Citing the examples of the killings of an estimated 50 students of the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe State in the early hours of February 25 by suspected members of the extremist Boko Haram, the organizations said it was unacceptable that under a sovereign state such atrocities could be going on unabated.

‘The killings of young, innocent and completely hapless students have reached not only an alarming but also an unacceptable level. If we agree that we have a government then the government should be able to protect its people particularly the young and vulnerable.  Unfortunately that is not what we are seeing under this administration,’ said Betty Abah, Executive Director of CEE-HOPE Nigeria.

She added that it was high time both government and individuals shelved ethnic bias and religious sentiments and face the common enemy which is terrorism.

‘We cannot continue as if all is well. A nation where children are unsecured and cannot look to any future, either arising from potential-stifling corruption at the highest level or the fear of being slaughtered like mere chickens shouldn’t exist in the first place, let’s face the raw fact,’ Mrs Abah added.

Debbie Ariyo of the UK-based AFRUCA described the situation as disheartening. “It is the role of government to help secure lives and property. It is not right that our children are exposed to harm and danger at the hands of terrorists this way. Government needs to act to ensure better protection for the citizens, especially children. In the same vein children and families who have been displaced through the evil acts of terrorism need to be offered protection and accommodation,” she said.

 The groups specifically lamented the series of recent killings of students and children by Boko Haram ranging from the July 6 2013 attack at Mamudo Government Secondary School in Yobe where at least 41 children and one teacher were killed; the  29 September 2013 Gujiba College massacre where suspected gunmen entered the male dormitory in the College of Agriculture in Gujiba, Yobe State, killing at least 44 students and teachers;  the Baga massacre of April 19 to 20, 2013 in Borno State where over 228 people were murdered as well as the first major onslaught on March 8, 2010 in the Dogo Nahawa in Plateau State where more than 500 villagers including several children were killed in cold blood. There were also other attacks carried out in churches, markets with high children casualty.

‘The entire world is watching the gross human rights abuses and outright slaughter of children with hardly any forms of reprisal action by the government, and we urge the government to end  this evil trend henceforth.  The rights of children to adequate protection even in conflict and war situations are protected under national and international laws and edicts and Nigeria cannot be an exception,’ the statement added.