UN partners CJTF to end child soldier recruitment in Northeast

The United Nations (UN), in collaborations with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Borno State, has signed a “plan of action” to end massive recruitment and use of children in the armed conflict in the Northeast.

The CJTF is a youth vigilance group established by Borno State government during the eight-year Boko Haram insurgency to tackle terrorist activities in the state.

CJTF members, who are volunteers in the fight against insurgency, have been accused alongside Boko Haram insurgents of recruiting children.

To set the records straight, the group at the weekend, signed an action plan with the UN, supervised by the Borno State Deputy governor, Usman Durkwa in Maiduguri.

In a related development, Virginia Gamba, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and UNICEF in Nigeria, has welcomed the signing of the action plan with CJTF).

The UN, in a statement, said the action on the part of the CJTF is commendable and should be sustained to restore peace and security.

Gamba said: “I congratulate the CJTF and the UN in Nigeria for the signature of this action plan, which brings hope for boys and girls deeply affected by the conflict in northeast Nigeria. Now that the Action Plan has been signed, I urge the CJTF to fully implement it in order to end and prevent recruitment and use of children once and for all.”