800,000 children forced from homes in Boko Haram violence
MICHELLE FAUL, Associated Press

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The children's drawings show men with guns, a coffin, a car exploding. One picture has stick-like figures of eight siblings missed by their teenage sister.

The disturbing images come from some of an estimated 800,000 children forced from the homes by Boko Haram extremists, according to a UNICEF report published Monday.

It says the number of refugee children has doubled in the past year, making them about half of all the 1.5 million Nigerians made homeless in the Islamic uprising.

"Children have become deliberate targets, often subjected to extreme violence - from sexual abuse and forced marriage to kidnappings and brutal killings," the report says. "Children have also become weapons, made to fight alongside armed groups and at times used as human bombs."

The number of children absent from primary school in Nigeria has increased from 8 million in 2007 to 10.5 million- the highest figure in the world, it says. Boko Haram has targeted schools, destroying or severely damaging more than 300 and killing 314 students and 196 teachers, UNICEF says.

The nickname of Nigeria's home-grown Islamic extremist group, Boko Haram, means "Western education is forbidden" or sinful.

One picture in the UNICEF report shows stick figures of the eight siblings missed by Rita, a 14-year-old living in a refugee camp in neighboring Chad with her mother, father and one younger sister. They became separated when Boko Haram attacked the Nigerian town of Baga, and she knows how worried they must be.

"When you have your mother around, you (are) not worried about anything. But if she is missing ... you are worried the whole time," the report quotes Rita as saying.

Called "Missing Childhoods," the report was published ahead of the first anniversary of the mass kidnappings the night of April 14-15, 2014, of nearly 300 schoolgirls from Chibok. Dozens escaped on their own but 219 remain missing.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-04-14

If it is true that truth is the first victim of war then children have to be the second. In this war they have not even tried to hide the truth so children are its first victim.

Boko Haram, means "Western education is forbidden" or sinful.

Who would have thought that in the 21st Century there would be people so inhumane and out right stupid...The Boko Haram hoodlums define one's ability to comprehend such low life scum's thinking...

Off-topic post removed.

Who would have thought that in the 21st Century there would be people so inhumane and out right stupid...

It will get worse, far worse, before it gets any better for Nigeria.

It may well be the 21st Century, that matters not to those who believe they are following the divine word.

may be we ought to aim our arrows at the leadership.

The followers are dumb folks with an IQ of 22 and too easy to manupulate, besides they i.s.o a teddu bear they found a machete or machinegun in their cradle.

They have no brains of their own, same with IS.

Go for their leadership and eliminate them and their supporters from the world.

These are pigs. I cannot be kind about it. They are the meat they refuse to eat.

Pigs.

Since this area belong to United Kingdom as a Colony

They should be allowed to move to United Kingdom at once and giving welfare

The English Air Force should fly them to England at once

One of the matters that is unforgiveable in Nigeria was the massive corruption and lack of action, both politically and militarily, by the previous government (headed by a Christian PM) that led to to the ever increasing horrors committed by Boko Haram. The newly elected Muslim PM (ex military dictator) has publically stated he will forcus on the destruction of Boko Haram, let's see if the military will now engage and his words translate to reality.