Mohammed Adoke: use of children by Boko Haram worries government

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in Nigeria, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has disclosed that the Federal Government is troubled about the way the Boko Haram terrorist group has resorted to using children to carry out suicide attacks in parts of the country.

This is as he gave a startling figure of about 1, 650,000 Nigerians as those currently displaced by insurgency in the country.

Speaking at the 28th Session of the United Nations Council on Human Rights in Geneva, Adoke said the Federal Government would not take it lightly with those found wanting in this regard as the law is explicitly against terrorism in any form.

He further explained that the dates for general elections in Nigeria was shifted for six weeks to enable those in areas affected by insurgency exercise their voting rights during the elections.

“Nigeria’s experience in combating terrorism and insurgency perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect in North-Eastern Nigeria and our common borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon, clearly demonstrates the relevance and potency of international cooperation and solidarity in tackling this scourge.

Boko Haram child soldiers learning to aim guns

“Since the insurgency began, close to 650,000 Nigerians have been internally displaced in the North Eastern part of Nigeria and another one million, as refugees in neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger. This situation has posed grave humanitarian situations in the affected areas including the neighbouring countries.

“We note with satisfaction the recent successes achieved by security forces and the increased level of cooperation at regional and sub-regional level to raise a multi-national force of 8,700 involving Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin by the African Union, with support from our global partners.

“My delegation believes that this initiative offers valuable lessons for the global community. In this regard, I cannot overemphasize the need for increased financial and material support for the multi-national force as well as the internally displaced persons and refugees,” parts of Adoke’s address in Geneva read.