The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Friday urged all militant groups in Nigeria to halt recruitment of children and release them, following the example of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), which has let go 833 children from its ranks.
GENEVA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 13th October, 2018) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Friday urged all militant groups in Nigeria to halt recruitment of children and release them, following the example of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), which has let go 833 children from its ranks.
"The release of these children from CJTF shows commitment to implement the provisions of the Action Plan and to uphold international humanitarian law ... This is a significant milestone in ending the recruitment and use of children, but many more children remain in the ranks of other armed groups in either combat or support roles. We call on all parties to stop recruiting children and let children be children," Pernille Ironside, the deputy representative of UNICEF Nigeria, said, as quoted in a statement.
The militant group signed the action plan committing to halt recruitment of children in 2017. It is CJTF's first release under the plan. In total, 1,469 children have been identified as having association with the militant group in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri, according to UNICEF.
CJTF mainly operates in Maiduguri, aiming to oust the Boko Haram militants, which have pledged alliance with Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia). However, the militants have been criticized for human rights abuses.
