A new report by UNICEF reveals that over 1000 children have been abducted in the North East of Nigeria by Boko Haram insurgents since 2013.
In the statement, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Mohammed Malick Fall, said since the conflict started in the North-eastern Nigeria almost nine years ago, at least 2,295 teachers have been killed and more than 1,400 schools have been destroyed, leaving most of these schools closed because of extensive damage or ongoing insecurity.
UNICEF reported this in the light of the fourth anniversary of the Chibok girls kidnapping, to be marked soon by Nigeria. But it admits the number could actually be much higher. It said she was forced to marry one of the fighters, locked in a room and repeatedly raped.
At least 2,295 teachers have been killed and more than 1,400 schools destroyed by the Islamist extremists since the conflict started in 2009, according to UNICEF.
Nigerian soldiers hold up a Boko Haram flag that they had seized in the recently retaken town of Damasak March 18, 2015. In February, one faction kidnapped more than 100 schoolgirls from the town of Dapchi, previously untouched by the war. These girls were released by the group last month for reasons that are still unclear.
"Five Boko Haram terrorists were neutralized while some escaped into nearby caves during the encounter". One other, Leah Sharibu, remains captive because she refused to convert to Islam, her freed classmates have said.
The government said the release was a prelude to ceasefire talks, though some insurgency experts disagree.
He said: "It is expedient to bring to public awareness that in their desperation to survive troops' onslaught and remain relevant, the Boko Haram terrorists have continued to make frantic efforts to infiltrate communities with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (Suicide bombers) to callously unleash terror and fear on the populace". Four years ago, 276 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok were abducted by Boko Haram, a case which sparked global outrage.
