President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday assured that his administration would ensure that all children in Boko Haram captivity were freed.
Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during a high level breakfast dialogue on ‘‘Stop the War on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts, Dividend of Silencing the Guns,’’ Buhari said no child would be left behind in the hands of the terrorists.
The even, which held on the sidelines of the 33rd AU summit was co-sponsored by the Governments of Nigeria, Uganda, and Norway, the Africa Union Commission and Save the Children.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted him as saying: “A number of schoolgirls from Chibok and Dapchi earlier abducted by Boko Haram have regained their freedom.
“We commend the gallant efforts of the Multinational 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.
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“We will not relent until every child, boy, or girl, every Nigerian adult in custody of Boko Haram, is freed!.”
President Buhari called on African countries and stakeholders on the continent to work deligently towards strengthening the protection of children from the six grave violations during armed conflict.
He identified the six grave violations as 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.
He lamented that these grave violations against children have continued unabated.
“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,” Buhari said.
