The Nigerian army has handed over 25 child soldiers recruited by the terror group Boko Haram to the government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for rehabilitation.
The child soldiers, aged between eight and 16 years, were rescued separately during recent operations by troops in the northeast region of the country. The handover is in line with the global protocol to protect vulnerable groups who were mostly victims and forcefully conscripted and recruited by the armed group.
The children will be kept safe at a UNICEF supported Transit Centre while efforts to reunite them with their families and reintegrate them back to their communities are underway. They will also access medical and psychosocial support, education, vocational training and informal apprenticeships including opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
