A new report by Global health body UNICEF has revealed that more than 42,000 children were recruited and used in conflicts in West and Central African region between 2005 and 2020.

In the report titled “25 Years of Children and Armed Conflict: Taking Action to Protect Children”, UNICEF disclosed that more than 7,600 children were killed or maimed in the regions during the years under review.

“Between 2005 and 2020 in West and Central Africa more than 7,600 children have been verified as killed or maimed in situations of armed conflict,” the report partly read.

“Over 42,000 children have been verified as recruited and used by parties to conflict,” it added.

UNICEF in the report said that West and Central Africa account for the second highest number of verified violations since 2005 with more than 67,000 verified grave violations across the globe.

The report further detailed that about 4,800 children were abducted by parties to conflict, with about 8,000 children raped, forcefully married and sexually exploited.

According to the report, over 2,500 schools and hospitals were attacked during the years under review.

Nigeria had during the years under review significantly recorded a series of attacks by bandits and terrorist sect.

In April 2014, 276 female students were abducted when terrorist group Boko Haram attacked a secondary school in Chibok town in Borno state.

Since then, there have been series of attacks on several schools across the country particularly in the northern region.

UNICEF in the report disclosed that it recorded about 391 cases of grave violations against 306 children in Nigeria.

The report detailed that the violations mainly occurred in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States and were attributed to ISWAP and other armed groups.

Speaking on the report, Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, highlighted the need to intensify efforts towards ending grave violation against children.

“The killing, abduction, and rape of girls and boys are horrific crimes. The increase in verified grave violations in the Central Sahel over the last quarter and their devastating impact on the wellbeing of children shows the need and importance of continuing our efforts to provide care to the victims and advocate for their immediate end. Attacks on civilians including children must be stopped and all measures for their protection, including during military operations, must be taken,” she said .