The Nigerian Army has made a shock discovery that some Nigerian parents donated their daughters to Boko Haram to be used as suicide bombers.
Army spokesman, Brigadier General Sani Usman said the girls were donated by their parents, according to some of the would-be-bombers apprehended and who made revealing statements during interrogations.
“It was discovered that most of these hapless minors were “donated” to the terrorists sect by their heartless and misguided parents and guardians as part of their contribution to the perpetuation of the Boko Haram terrorists’ dastardly acts against the Nigerian society and humanity”, Usman said.
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“The acts of these parents and guardians are not only barbaric, but condemnable and unacceptable”, he added.
He appealed to religious, traditional and community leaders, and well-meaning Nigerians in the North-East, to dissuade their people from donating their daughters to Boko Haram for indoctrination and suicide bombing missions.
“Nigerians have a responsibility and obligation to collectively mould our children and wards and define a better future for them rather than condemning them to death by the criminal Boko Haram terrorists and their sympathizers through suicide bombings,” Usman said.
He urged the people to be more vigilant, security conscious and report any suspicious persons or those whose daughters or female wards are missing or have not been seen recently.
“You can report by calling 193 on any network.
“The public is also reminded that the Nigerian Army’s offer and reward of the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) to anybody that provide information about suicide bombing, is still valid,” he added.
Boko Haram attacks have killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 2.7 million in northeast Nigeria and adjacent areas of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
Although the Chibok girls are the most high-profile case, Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of adults and children, many of whose cases are neglected, aid groups say.
Girls who were abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok and Damasak in Borno State in April and November 2014, “continue to be subjected to rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage and impregnation by Boko Haram insurgents,” the panel said.
Nigeria’s presidency referred a request for comment to the ministry of women’s affairs. The ministry was not immediately available for comment.
In May, Nigerian officials said that the Chibok girls found last year would be going back to school in September.
“Of course we commended (Nigeria) for the rescue of 100 of them who are currently, we’re told, kept in Abuja, going through psycho-social counselling,” panel member Hilary Gbedemah told Reuters.
Many girls in the northeast have dropped out of school due to the insurgency and schools must be secured to protect students, the panel said.
