Latest statistics released by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF revealed that over 300,000 children have been killed in the last 12 years due to terrorists’ activities in the North East region.
It also announced that over one million persons have been displaced within the period under review and reported that about 5,129 out-of-school children were currently suffering mental health challenges as a result of the conflict.
The UNICEF Media Contact in Maiduguri Salihu Bakhari, while speaking on the factors responsible for the death of 300,000 children, said the deaths were a summation of direct and indirect attacks on children. He explained that children killed in crossfires, Improvised Explosive Device, IEDs, children used as suicide bombers, children killed by malnutrition among others.
Also, on his part, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, advocated that every stakeholder must ensure attacks against children end immediately. He added the United Nations, UN and the European Union, EU were working together to provide community-based psychosocial services.
