Boko Haram Recruited 1,092 Children In 2017 – UN

The United Nations has revealed that 1,092 children were recruited and used by the terrorist sect Boko Haram in 2017.

The number was given in the annual report of the secretary-general on Children and Armed Conflict, which covered 20 countries including Nigeria, Syria, Yemen, and India.

The report, according to The Cable, said the terrorist group intensified attacks on civilians through suicide bombings and ground attacks.

There were 146 cases of children being used as carriers of person-borne improvised explosive devices, the report also said.

It read in part:

In north-east Nigeria, as well as in neighbouring countries, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, commonly known as Boko Haram, intensified attacks on civilians, including through suicide bombings and ground attacks.

A worrying trend is the continued use of children by Boko Haram as carriers of person-borne improvised explosive devices, with 146 cases documented in Nigeria.

The UN verified 45 incidents of rape and other forms of sexual violence, affecting 131 children, including nine boys and 125 cases – nine boys and 116 girls – were attributed to Boko Haram. All child victims attributed to Boko Haram were abducted, raped or forcibly married to members of the group.

In addition, 1,456 children in north-east Nigeria were verified as having been abducted by Boko Haram during previous years.

The continued number of violations remains gravely disturbing, in particular, the use of children as carriers of person-borne improvised explosive devices and the number of abductions.