Boko Haram: All abducted children will be released during my regime – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated on Monday, 10th February that all the children in Boko Haram’s captivity would gain freedom before the end of his tenure.
The president made this statement during a breakfast dialogue on ‘‘ Stop the War on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts, Dividend of Silencing the Guns ’’ , in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia , held on the margins of the ongoing 33rd African Union Summit.
Nigeria , Uganda , Norway , the AU Commission and Save the Children sponsored the dialogue .
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 Multi-National 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 . ”
Among the children being held is Leah Sharibu , the Dapchi schoolgirl who was said to have denied of a baby few weeks back.
A statement from the State House revealed on Monday that Buhari urged African countries and stakeholders on the continent to make the security and protection of children imperative against six grave violations.
He maintained that the six grave violations were 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.
The president noted that, ” It is for this reason that the Nigerian government has severally condemned , and is combating frontally the dreadful activities of terrorist groups like Boko Haram and the so-called Islamic State.
” Of course, the severity of these grave violations varies from country to country.
” The incidence of a single violation of children rights in any country is an indelible dent on the African consciousness and is to be deplored and condemned , ” he said.
He apprised AU leaders that they must not fail in safeguarding children, briefing the session on steps taken by Nigeria to achieve this objective.
” 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 de -mobilisation of ex-combatant children of Boko Haram insurgents ” , his media aide , Mr Garba Shehu said.
Buhari, however charged the AU Peace and Security Council to launch a plan to stop the war on children and adopt the Child Protection Architecture within the African Peace and Security Architecture and the Roadmap on Silencing the Guns.
He further revealed, ” The call to action is now for accountability by all African States to the rights of the children caught up in wars.
” Let us stop the war on children . This is a wake -up call for us all to create the enabling environment for rooting out the impact of armed conflicts against our children across the continent ”
