The Nigerian Army on Saturday handed over 23 minors rescued from Boko Haram to United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) for rehabilitation.
Maj.-Gen. Abbah Dikko, Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, who disclosed this at the command headquarters in Maiduguri, said the exercise was in conformity with international best practise.
Dikko said, “In compliance with global best practise, we handed over these children associated with armed group to UNICEF,” Dikko said.
He explained that the gesture was in line with the commitment of the army to promote civil military relationship toward achieving lasting peace in the Northeast.
In his remark, Mr Geoffrey Ijumba, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Borno State, who received the minors, welcomed the release of the 23 boys and girls aged between 12 and 17 years from the military custody.
He said UNICEF was working with the military and Borno government through the Ministry of Women Affairs to provide medical attention, psychological and social supports to victims displaced by the Boko Haram conflicts.
