According to the security source, who the Leadership newspaper said
did not want to disclose his identity because he was not authorised to
speak on the matter, the Nigerian troops are concerned about the use of
women and child-soldiers as human shields by the Boko Haram militants in
their quest to weaken military operations.
He also stated that the terrorists recruit, rape and kill some of the young captives who are reluctant to join them in their dastardly acts.
The source said that in most cases, children and teenagers are forced to be at the forefront of the battle against the Nigerian troops through ambushing and suicide bombing.
He mentioned some cases where women and children were used by the Boko Haram sect to perpetrate their evil acts like the recent bombing of Yobe school on Monday, 10 November, 2014.
The security personnel also revealed that on several occasions, the Nigerian military has captured children who were forced to take up arms against the state with some of them behaving abnormally due to indoctrination and inducement through the use of hard drugs.
“We are being cautious in abiding by the rules of engagement even
when we are aware that the militants recruit children to spy on us and
push them to engage in hostilities against innocent citizens and the
troops.
“Most of the children, especially teenagers were recruited through abduction, kidnapping and enticement with money after which they undergo brainwashing and combat training. Those that are unwilling to cooperate are punished or summarily executed,” he said.
The source added: “Reliable sources suggested that insurgents have relied on the knowledge that Nigerian troops have a responsibility to observe strict rules of engagement and also avoid a situation whereby patriotic citizens caught in the middle of conflict will lose their lives.
“We have lost our men in the battle-field while we tried to avoid shooting children and teenagers who are forced to confront us.
“How do you expect us to arrest a child with a gun? Do we accord such an armed under-age combatant with the status of a child deserving of protection under the rule of engagement?
“It may become inevitable that some collateral damages may be recorded if we get the order especially because Boko Haram elements were using civilians as human shields to continue to gain undue advantages in the current battle in the North East.
“However, much as troops are determined to avoid collateral damage, it has become inevitable to be decisive with armed under-age combatants and female suicide bombers with the situation degenerating by the day.
“The military will no longer tolerate a situation where insurgents use human shield to gain undue advantage especially now that majority of Nigerians have demanded that a full scale war be declared by government in response to Boko Haram.”
It would be recalled that no fewer than 48 people were confirmed dead from the bomb blast that happened at the Yobe school on Monday. Eyewitnesses reports informed that the attack was carried out by an under age who posed as one of the students of the affected school.
He also stated that the terrorists recruit, rape and kill some of the young captives who are reluctant to join them in their dastardly acts.
The source said that in most cases, children and teenagers are forced to be at the forefront of the battle against the Nigerian troops through ambushing and suicide bombing.
He mentioned some cases where women and children were used by the Boko Haram sect to perpetrate their evil acts like the recent bombing of Yobe school on Monday, 10 November, 2014.
The security personnel also revealed that on several occasions, the Nigerian military has captured children who were forced to take up arms against the state with some of them behaving abnormally due to indoctrination and inducement through the use of hard drugs.
“Most of the children, especially teenagers were recruited through abduction, kidnapping and enticement with money after which they undergo brainwashing and combat training. Those that are unwilling to cooperate are punished or summarily executed,” he said.
The source added: “Reliable sources suggested that insurgents have relied on the knowledge that Nigerian troops have a responsibility to observe strict rules of engagement and also avoid a situation whereby patriotic citizens caught in the middle of conflict will lose their lives.
“We have lost our men in the battle-field while we tried to avoid shooting children and teenagers who are forced to confront us.
“How do you expect us to arrest a child with a gun? Do we accord such an armed under-age combatant with the status of a child deserving of protection under the rule of engagement?
“It may become inevitable that some collateral damages may be recorded if we get the order especially because Boko Haram elements were using civilians as human shields to continue to gain undue advantages in the current battle in the North East.
“However, much as troops are determined to avoid collateral damage, it has become inevitable to be decisive with armed under-age combatants and female suicide bombers with the situation degenerating by the day.
“The military will no longer tolerate a situation where insurgents use human shield to gain undue advantage especially now that majority of Nigerians have demanded that a full scale war be declared by government in response to Boko Haram.”
It would be recalled that no fewer than 48 people were confirmed dead from the bomb blast that happened at the Yobe school on Monday. Eyewitnesses reports informed that the attack was carried out by an under age who posed as one of the students of the affected school.
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