The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafia Dole, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi has handed over 25 children absorbed of any links with Boko Haram to the Borno State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development at the Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri.
The children; 23 boys and 2 girls, are aged between 8 and 15. All of them were handed over to the Borno State government for rehabilitation and reintegration into the society.
The Military stated that despite the fact that some of the parents of the children were arrested members of the Boko haram terrorist group, ” there’s no justification to keep them in detention alongside their parents”.
According to the Theatre Commander, the efforts of the Army at ensuring the release of the children must be commended as proper profiling have been carried out to ascertain that none of the children has links with the dreaded Boko haram group.
“The children have been adequately profiled and their role in Boko Haram were supportive and non-violent.
“It is this part of the development that takes into account the development and wellbeing of innocent children who are coerced into acts of terrorism and violence without moral justification”.
The TC revealed that the children abducted by the insurgents are commonly subjected to abuse and most of them witness killing and sexual violence.
“Regardless of how they are recruited and the roles they play, their participation bear serious implication on their physical and emotional well-being. Therefore, their rehabilitation and reintegration into civil life is an essential part of our program, in partnership with other stakeholders to help them rebuild their lives, ” Adeniyi said.
The UNICEF acting Chief of Field Office in Borno State Ms, Gillian Walker commended the Military and the Ministry of Women Affairs for their roles and promised that the children will be provided care and support at the Transit Centre established with support of UNICEF, IOM and other humanitarian partners.
“Although we have made progress in successfully reintegrating children cleared of association with armed groups, a lot still needs to be done,” Walker said.
Commissioner of Women Affairs in Borno State, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo said the government will continue to ensure that rights of all children are protected.
“To our children, whom we recognised not only as Allah’s special gift to us but our assets, I say to you, that there is hope. As you are going back to your families and communities, we will support you to reintegrate.
“We will not stop at that but also go a step further in our wholesome reintegration programme to give you access to education and other services that will help you to grow and develop into active individuals and responsible citizens of this great country.
“I urge you to make good use of these opportunities and learn all you can to be able to smoothen the rough edges around you and turn it into a path to achieving your dream in life and ultimately contribute in your little way to the task of making Nigeria, especially the North-East a better place not just for children alone but for every member of the society,”. According to the commissioner.
(C) Control TV 2019.
