Boko Haram
Boko Haram Recruits Child Soldiers- MNJTT
Boko Haram has continued to introduce new strategies in an
effort to resuscitate it’s declining influence in the Lake Chad
Basin.
The newest strategy is the introduction of child soldiers.
Information on this disturbing development was brought in by human
intelligence sources and corroborated by concerned individuals and
groups, a couple of days ago.
However, Boko-Haram Terrorists themselves, further confirmed
their atrocious act when they posted pictures of children dressed
in military fatigue and holding assault rifles in a video released
during the Sallah celebrations.
The recruitment of child soldiers is the latest in a retinue of
brutal and inhuman tactics deployed by Boko Haram since it began
the futile attempt to cause mayhem and overthrow constitutional and
social order.
Earlier, Boko Haram have engaged in the mass abduction of school
girls, sexual enslavement of women and mass murder of innocent
civilians.
This recent employment of child soldiers is as a result of
frustration caused by several operational losses, leadership
crises, as well as disillusionment among fighters and their
subsequent surrender in hundreds to the MNJTF. The focus on
children is because they are easier to manipulate and indoctrinate
than the adults within the region who can now see through the veil
of deceit.
Arising from this latest atrocity by Boko Haram, the
Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) urges parents, local
authorities, religious and traditional institutions to be vigilant
and promptly alert security agencies of any overt or covert
attempts to recruit their children and wards.
Furthermore, owing to the gale of disillusionment and surrender
which have depleted the ranks of Boko Haram, youths are advised to
be mindful of promises of power and influence, economic prosperity
and spiritual growth.
Boko Haram does not have any of these conditions to offer. The
stories of hardship and evil within the terrorist organisations as
revealed by all surrendered Boko Haram fighters should be
sufficient notice that Boko Haram and ISWAP have nothing good to
offer anyone.
It would be recalled that the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed
conflict forbids the recruitment and use of children in Armed
Conflicts.
The Protocol states among others that “Armed groups distinct
from armed forces of a country should not, under any circumstances,
recruit or use in hostilities anyone under 18”.
It is against this background that the MNJTF is drawing the
attention of the United Nations, it’s relevant agencies and other
stake holders to the latest acts of inhumanity and desperation by
Boko Haram, and urges severe condemnation and other necessary
action. On our part, the MNJTF will continue with activities that
are focused on the protection of children and other vulnerable
groups within its area of operation.
Colonel Timothy Antigha
Chief of Military Public Information
MNJTF
N’Djamena – Chad