Tag Archives: Number

UNICEF Raises Alarm Over Number Of Child Suicide Bombers

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over the increase in the number of children involved in suicide attacks in some West African countries.

The agency described those involved in the attacks as victims deceived into the act.

This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja and signed by UNICEF Regional Director for West/Central Africa, Mr Manuel Fontaine.

According to the statement, the affected countries are Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun and Niger with majority of them as females.

“The number of children involved in suicide attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger has risen sharply over the past years, from four in 2014 to 44 in 2015.

“More than 75 per cent of the children involved in the attacks were girls.

“These children are victims, not perpetrators, who are being deceived and forced to carry out deadly acts of violence in Nigeria and in neighbouring countries,” it said.

In the data released by UNICEF in the statement, Cameroon recorded the highest number of suicide attacks involving 21 children, followed by Nigeria with 17 children and Chad two between January 2014 and February 2016.

It added that the frequency of all suicide bombings increased from 32 in 2014 to 151 in 2015.

According to the statement, in 2015, 89 of the attacks were carried out in Nigeria, 39 in Cameroon, 16 in Chad and seven in Niger.

It added that the calculated use of children coerced into carrying bombs had created an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.

The statement said it had devastating consequences for girls who had survived captivity and sexual violence by Boko Haram in Northeast Nigeria.

In addition, it said children who escaped from or were released by armed groups were often seen as potential security threats.

“Children born as a result of sexual violence also encounter stigma and discrimination in their villages, host communities, and in camps for internally displaced persons.’

“As suicide attacks involving children become common place, some communities are starting to see children as threats to their safety.
“This suspicion towards children can have destructive consequences,” it said.

The statement, however, said UNICEF was partnering with communities affected by terrorism and insecurity to fight stigmatisation against children, survivors of violence towards better environment.

Credit: NAN

Orlando Bloom Wants Kendall Jenner’s Number

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Orlando Bloom accepted the Britannia Humanitarian Award in Los Angeles last Friday, and although the majority of his speech was dedicated to discussing his work for UNICEF, ?it’s a comment he made in passing about Kendall Jenner that is making headlines. Naturally.

It all began when Robert Downey, Jr. presented Orlando with the award, USA Today reports, saying that Orlando finds time to do humanitarian work “when he’s not swinging at Justin Bieber or dating Kendall Jenner.” RDJ, troublemaker that he is, was referring to Orlando’s ?2014 fight with Justin, which took place in Ibiza and was supposedly over Orlando’s ex, model Miranda Kerr; the Kendall comment was about unconfirmed romance rumors that made the tabloid rounds in September.

As ?People reports, Orlando then took the opportunity to humorously clear things up:  ?”I actually did not ‘connect’ with Justin Bieber,” he said. “And I don’t know Kendall Jenner, but if anyone has her number I would love it.”

Credit: Cosmopolitan

Nigeria Has Highest Number Of IDPs- UN

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Nigeria has the highest number of displaced persons in the world, the United Nations has said.

According to the UN, the continued rise in the number of displaced persons in Nigeria was largely due to the destructive activities perpetuated by the terrorists, Boko Haram, in the north-eastern part of the country. It described the insurgency as persistent.

The UN Resident Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, revealed that over 1.5 million people were displaced in Nigeria, adding that there was an urgent need to realise the great extent of the responsibility that was associated with this development.

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President Buhari Insists On Slashing Number Of Ministries, Agencies

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President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration was seriously looking for ways of cutting down the cost of governance by reducing the number of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The president, who stated this at the weekend when he met with the Nigerian community in Benin Republic, assured, however, that in cutting down the number of MDas, he would not take the interest of Nigerians, including those living in Diaspora, for granted.

He also assured Nigerians living in Diaspora that his administration would consider their requests of setting up of consular offices where necessary to enable the embassies coordinate and respond to their urgent needs in an expeditious manner.

President Buhari, who was in Benin Republic on a one-day visit and to attend the country’s 55th independence anniversary, met with Nigerians living in the country immediately after he was hosted to a launch by the country’s president, Boni Yayi.

Responding to requests made by the Nigerian community in Benin Republic through the Nigerian Ambassador, Dr. Lawrence Obisakin, he assured that the government would next year look at the possibility of creating more consular offices in Benin Republic.

Responding to requests for two more consulates in Benin Republic to complement the Nigerian embassy, Buhari noted that even though the federal government was trying to whittle down the number of MDAs, he would include their request in next year’s budget.

He said, “I think I will direct your ambassador to make the request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that by the time we are doing the next budget, it would be included.

“Although we are trying to cut down on the number of ministries, the morale of Nigerians in Diaspora must be considered. This is because we are so many. We are aggressive whether in business or other facets of life. So, we as a government will do everything possible to look after Nigerians wherever they are.”

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