SW News: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Wednesday that a total of 4,204 children who were forcefully recruited by the Islamist insurgent organization Boko Haram had been safely rescued from captivity. The rescue effort took place in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, with Maiduguri acting as the command and control center.

As part of a two-day task force meeting in Maiduguri on the execution plan for the transfer protocol, the UNICEF Child Protection Manager for the Maiduguri Field Office, Samuel Sesay, transferred custody of the children on Wednesday. The federal government and the United Nations signed the Handover Protocol in 2022. This convention strives to address the critical problem of children involved in armed conflict being placed in military institutions, with the main goal of ensuring their evacuation from such situations.

The children have been sent to the women's departments of three states. According to reports, Permanent Secretary Mohamed Hamza was observed engaging in the handover protocol in Borno State on behalf of Commissioner Zuwaira Gambo for Women Affairs and Social Development.

In line with reports, the commissioner has emphasized that any minors suspected of having connections to armed organizations be handed over to the Ministry of Women's Affairs within the seven-day time period. She also underlined the need to provide these youngsters with a full package of assistance.

Military troops, as well as representatives from the United Nations, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the Federal Ministries of Women's Affairs, Defense, and Humanitarian Affairs, were present.

The continuous 14-year insurgency in the North East area has resulted in the devastating loss of over 40,000 lives. Furthermore, the fighting has caused massive property damage totaling an astounding N4.2 trillion.

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno recently said that terrorism has had a negative influence on the state's economy, increasing the current humanitarian crises, poverty, and instability across multiple sectors.