Chibok schoolgirls

Chibok schoolgirls

A UN and African human rights group have appealed to the Nigerian-based terror group, Boko Haram, to reveal the location of the 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno, in 2014.

The group made the plea in a statement issued in New York ahead of April 14 second anniversary of the abduction of the girls.

The group also urged the government to intensify efforts to free all civilians kidnapped by the insurgents.

“In the last two years, in spite of re-assurances from those at the highest level of the Nigerian government, the parents have not seen any concrete progress in locating and liberating their daughters.

“The lack of access to information increases the suffering of the abductees’ families through false hopes and frustrations,” it said.

Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in April 2014

The rights experts said that while they understood the security considerations put forward by the authorities, which prevented the disclosure of information, they were deeply concerned about the feeling of the concerned families.

“The grievances of the families and their most basic right to be kept informed about the plight of their loved ones has largely been ignored,” the statement said.

The experts believe that the Nigerian authorities should meet the parents’ demand for the designation of a focal point to liaise with the families of abducted persons and provide them with regular information and assistance.

In the past two years, several abducted civilians have either managed to escape from Boko Haram or were freed by the Nigerian army.

The UN and African human rights experts welcomed these operations and urged the authorities to ensure that those who had been released were provided with adequate care, recovery and reintegration services.

The experts commended ongoing programmes such as the Safe Schools Initiative and the Victims Support Fund.
“We are nonetheless seriously concerned by the absence of follow-up in the provision of care, recovery and reintegration measures for victims of sexual violence,” they noted.

“The reintegration and rehabilitation of women and children are essential in the path towards lasting peace,” the statement said.

It recalls the findings of a joint visit to Nigeria in January by the UN Special Rapporteurs on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, on contemporary forms of slavery, and on the right to health.

“Both the Nigerian authorities and the international community should make it clear that all alleged crimes perpetrated by Boko Haram will be promptly, thoroughly and independently investigated.

“And, those responsible, directly or as commanders or superiors, should be brought to justice.

“The declaration by the African Union making this year the African Year of Human Rights with a specific focus on women’s rights should be an additional call to action for African States and the international community.

“They should actively support Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram, and also in addressing deep-rooted human rights violations such as gender-based violence and discrimination,” the experts said.

The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, reported on Tuesday that the number of children involved in suicide attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger has risen sharply over the past year, from four in 2014 to 44 in 2015.

A report released by the agency, entitled “Beyond Chibok’’, shows alarming trends in four countries affected by Boko Haram over the past two years.

“Let us be clear, these children are victims, not perpetrators,” said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

“Deceiving children and forcing them to carry out deadly acts has been one of the most horrific aspects of the violence in Nigeria and in neighbouring countries.

“Among the trends highlighted in the report is that between January, 2014 and February, 2016, Cameroon recorded the highest number of suicide attacks involving 21 children, followed by Nigeria, with 17 and Chad, two,” it said.