Nigerian children are targets of schools attacks, kidnaps, rape and recruitment

Children in northeastern Nigeria are being subjected to school attacks, abductions, forced recruitment, rape and other sexual violence.

And the scale of violations against children is so extreme that urgent action is needed by the Nigerian government, the United Nations and other agencies to protect them, a report has revealed.

Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict 国产视频撀燼n international network of human rights and humanitarian non-government organisations 国产视频� yesterday produced the 64-page report titled聽国产视频淲ho Will Care for Us?国产视频� Grave Violations against Children in Northeastern Nigeria. The report looked at incidents dating back to the start of current conflict in December 2012, including the kidnapping the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram.

Watchlist said more than three million children have had their lives disrupted by the conflict.

Researcher聽Janine Morna said: 国产视频淲hile the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok, Borno State, has shed some light on how children are affected by the conflict in the northeast, most abuses are still poorly documented, understood and addressed by key actors.国产视频�

Watchlist researched attacks on schools in the region which 国产视频� according to its survey 国产视频� has resulted in the death, injury or abduction of at least 414 students, teachers or other civilians on school premises between January 2012 and July 2014.

Ms Morna added: 国产视频淐ontinuous attacks on schools have devastated聽education in the region, creating a climate of fear for students and teachers, and leading to school聽closures from as early as April 2013. Relevant actors must bolster school security through programmes like聽the Safe Schools Initiative.国产视频�

The Safe Schools Initiative was launched by Nigerian business leaders working with the UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown, the Global Business Coalition for Education and A World at School. It aims to ensure Nigerian schools are safe from attacks.

The Watchlist report features a graphic account by a 13-year-old boy of an attack on his school, the Federal Government College Buni Yadi in Yobe State.

He said: 国产视频淲e were sleeping in the hostel. We heard the gun shots. I woke up from sleeping 国产视频� 10 boys were in the room 国产视频� I went out of the room 国产视频� I was running 国产视频� I was feeling afraid国产视频� I had gotten out of the room and I was shot at in the leg 国产视频β�

国产视频淭he person pointed a gun at me国产视频� I fell down国产视频� I was hit with two bullets on聽my left foot 国产视频� I pretended like I died国产视频� because if I didn国产视频檛 pretend they would shoot me again 国产视频β�

国产视频淚 felt聽like 30 minutes 国产视频� When the people were not at the place I woke up. I woke up and entered the聽room again. The students that didn国产视频檛 die国产视频� I said if they are able to run, let us run.国产视频�

Watchlist said it is particularly concerning that children are being forced to spy or help armed attacks by Boko Haram and the Civilian Joint Task Force, a militia formed in mid-2013 in Borno state.

Ms Morna said: 国产视频淐hildren as young as 13 are being recruited by both sides of the conflict and have nowhere to turn.国产视频�

She said Nigerian security forces who encounter child soldiers in Boko Haram国产视频檚 ranks often detain these children in unofficial military detention facilities known for the mistreatment of detainees, instead of protecting and rehabilitating them in accordance with international standards.

She added: 国产视频淭he government of Nigeria should denounce the recruitment of children by all armed groups, take聽immediate steps to release child soldiers in their custody, and develop procedures to transfer child聽soldiers to civilian actors.

国产视频淭he humanitarian response to violations against children has been slow, fragmented, and unable to聽meet the fast-growing needs of those affected by the conflict.

国产视频淭he Nigerian Government, United Nations and non-governmental agencies must聽take urgent steps to recruit experts with experience operating in a conflict situation and scale up聽programming to support some of Nigeria国产视频檚 most vulnerable and marginalised children.国产视频�

Find out how you can take action to help children in conflict zones.