The United Nation’s International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern over rising levels of violence against children in Nigeria.
The international agency stated that the nation has witnessed, and continues to witness grave violations of children’s rights such as killings, abductions, sexual violence and use in suicide bombings by Boko Haram.
The organisation noted that in the North East for instance, more than 1.2 million children have been displaced; more than half of them below the age of five.
“It’s time to take action – renewing efforts to end violence against children,” it said.
UNICEF in statement issued by Ijeoma Onuoha Ogbe, Communication Officer, Media and External Relations, UNICEF Enugu, noted that the theme of the just celebrated 2016 Children’s Day, “Protect the rights of the child in the face of violence and insecurity: End child marriage” helps to shed a much needed light on the plight of children.
UNICEF stressed that even those living away from the crisis in the North East are also at risk of violence, especially as it concerns herdsmen-farmers related bloody clashes.
