The increasing number of female suicide bomb attackers in northeastern Nigeria is becoming worrisome that one continues to imagine how young women who supposed to be future mothers are being used for the destruction of their own lives and those of others.
According to report, about 170 people have been killed in the attacks since June 1, 2016.
It was also reported that eighty –three children had been used as bombers since January 1, 2017 and that 55 out of the number were girls under 15 while others were boys.
UNICEF, in a statement released recently, said it was “extremely concerned about an appalling increase in the cruel and calculated use of children, especially girls, as ‘human bombs’ in northeast Nigeria. The use of children in this way is an atrocity.”
It could be recalled that the first case of their activity was reported in the ancient city of Kano on July 28, 2014 when two female suicide bombers struck the city within five hours of each other. The heinous attack killed five persons within 24 hours.
The incidence happened on a Sunday at St. Charles Catholic Church , Sabon Gari when an Improvised Explosive Device, (IED) was thrown at a crowd of worshipers.
In the same vein, another female suicide bomber was recorded to blow up herself at a police check point at Gidan Murtala, by Kofar Nassarawa overhead bridge.
As the hits continued in quick successions, another attack took place at NNPC Mega station located along Eastern Bye-pass where kerosene was being sold to customers in Kano metropolis.
The then Commissioner of Police in Kano, Mr. Adenrele Shinaba, while reporting the incidence to the media concurred that a female suicide bomber got to the filling station around 10.00am and pretended to be one of the customers before sneaking into a long queue of potential kerosene buyers and later blew up herself, killing many and injuring others.
Speaking on the issue, Director, Funky Winniez D Agency, a modeling organization that works with young girls in Lagos, Winnie Amy Olisa, described the situation as dangerous and fearful.
“It is a dangerous situation and the fact is that these young girls were being deceived. Those who engage them in such deadly mission do not tell them the truth. It is unfortunate that the present administration till now has not been able to stop this wicked and deadly activities of Boko Haram despite all their promises.
“If this cruel act continues, more people will die.
“The girls in the Northern part of the country should be taught that the right to life is everybody’s and that they do not have the right to take their lives nor that of others”.
To a Lagos based business man, Kamaldeen Lediju, the ignorance of the people is what the insurgents are exploiting to recruit the young girls, adding that government should fight back through increased information, awareness and education of the people.
Lamenting the situation, another worried citizen, Daniel Eze said:
“For somebody to agree to kill herself is a dilemma and to accept the offer speaks volumes about the state of the nation.”
He believed that if there is provision for better life and people are productively engaged, they will not accept to destroy their lives and that of others, but when life does not worth anything because of poverty, penury and lack, those who do not have hope of surviving may decide to take their lives.
Continuing, he said: “There is no amount of money promised to me that will make me accept such mission because I have steady income, but for these people in question, what do they have that they look forward to, nothing in most cases.
“Therefore, these are the areas the government and policy makers should consider as tools in combating the scourge.
“The implication is that the future of the country is in danger because if the youths who are the future leaders of this country is being used in such manner, the country’s hope is bleak,’’ he added.
Nigerian aid worker Rebecca Dali, who runs an agency that offers counseling for those who were abducted, said children as young as four were among the 209 escapees her organization had helped since 2015.
“They are highly traumatized,” Ms. Dali noted at the United Nations in Geneva, where she received an award from the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation for her humanitarian work.
Her team, which includes former police officers, identified some returnees as having been trained as suicide bombers.
“There were two girls taught by Boko Haram to be suicide bombers … The girls confirmed that they were taught that their life was not worth living, that if they die detonating the bomb and killing a lot of people, then their lives will be profitable,” Dali said.
In all, analysts stressed the need for government to re-orientate, educate and inform the youths especially the young girls being used and their parents on the need to desist from activities that are detrimental to general well being of others.
