w Boko Haram condemned children to the scrap heap

– The insurance package given to the children of the deceased by the federal government did not go round – Nigerian Army said that all children are entitled to scholarships and welfare package – Child rights activists to embark on a public awareness campaign on behalf of the children

“I am the first child of my father. I don’t know what to do, he promised to see me through to the university level and he is no more. “Our mum is not working; she is not educated and also, she has never worked since my father married her. All she knows how to do is keep the house in order and train me and my siblings,” Hadiza Bukar told NAIJ.com. When Hadiza was writing her junior WAEC in the city of Bauchi, she looked forward to graduating from the university and aspired to become a nurse. The 14-year-old girl thought her dreams of becoming a nurse and working to save File Picture of happy children “I am the first child of my father. I don’t know what to do, he promised to see me through to the university level and he is no more. “Our mum is not working; she is not educated and also, she has never worked since my father married her. All she knows how to do is keep the house in order and train me and my siblings,” Hadiza Bukar told NAIJ.com. When Hadiza was writing her junior WAEC in the city of Bauchi, she looked forward to graduating from the university and aspired to become a nurse. The 14-year-old girl thought her dreams of becoming a nurse and working to save lives was a real possibility. But now it is unlikely to happen. “We are five and I am the first. Our lastborn is three years. Since my father died on the battlefield, we have not known peace. Some family members wanted to take my brothers away to Jalingo, but my mother refused and after a while, they took my younger brothers, two of them,” she lamented.

Nigerian Army waging war against Boko Haram Hadiza is one of the thousands of children of the Nigerian soldiers who were killed in battle. In a chat with NAIJ.com, Toke Adeoye said she missed her father everyday: “I miss my father. Although he has not been around for a while they murdered him all the same. His absence was felt, and it is as if he is around us. Sometimes I think he is talking to me,” Toke explained. Boko Haram Insurgency Since the Boko Haram insurgency started actively in 2013, they have killed thousands of Nigerian soldiers on the battlefield. Others were captured and murdered in cold blood. The army has been accused of neglecting the families of soldiers who have been killed. Nigerian soldiers are normally lodged in barracks where soldiers are allowed to live with their families. Some of these homes are empty, the families reportedly thrown out by the government after the father died on the battlefield.

Yan kungiyar Boko Haram Scholarships In 2015, the army announced a scholarship scheme for the children of fallen soldiers. The acting director of army public relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said that a payment based on approved criteria for sponsorship of eligible children of deceased personnel started in February 2015. “Before I left the barracks, some people came to address us saying that my children school fees will be taken care of by the government. Over a year now, we didn’t see their break light. I never believed them for once. Answer me; who will I ask for school fees? Hadiza asked NAIJ.com’s correspondent.Sani Usman said they have catered for 1000 children, and introduced a welfare plan for them. “We have a welfare scheme for both officers and soldiers of the Nigerian army, especially for their dependents or next of kin in the event of inevitable unforeseen [death]. For instance, if the soldier is injured or ultimately lose their life, his family will be adequately taken care of apart from the routine administrative we have,” Usman said.

File picture of some captured Boko Haram terrorists Group Life Assurance A Group Life Assurance is an insurance policy that covers the death of an employee while in service. Employers with three or more staff are expected to take this cover mandatorily. On the death of an employee, a benefit equivalent to three times the annual earnings of the employee is paid to his/her next-of-kin. This was also included in the benefits given to these children.

A file picture of army widows Struggling families Some of the fallen soldiers have more than four children so the benefits do not go far. Some have four wives and the package is meant for only a single wife, leading to chaos within the family and the confusion of officials. Many widows were pregnant when their husbands died in battle, and they worry about who will take care of their children. “I am the third wife of my husband and how do you expect them to even take care of my two children. I have given up as the first wife is the one that got benefits from the federal government. My children are with my sister in Asaba. Once I settle down well in my business then I can go and get them back,” Amos Martha told NAIJ.com. Child rights A child rights activist said that if these claims were true it is very unjust. He said the ordeals of these families are symptomatic of the collapse of almost everything in the country, but he hoped that the government would find a solution as soon as possible. “I have heard about these problems but really who do we meet is the question here. “If a widow is aggrieved and she head to the army headquarter, will she will be answered. She risked being beaten, locked up or even “Reason along with me. The economy is crumbling and things seems not be working in our country and you expect the government to really pay attention to them? Again, what is the authenticity of the insurance and how many beneficiaries have you seen? “We will soon commence on a public awareness campaign for their rights and I hope the government listens. But it is not fair,” Tunji Okanlawon told NAIJ.com. Nigerian army reacts Colonel SK Usman told NAI

J.com that the government has made provision for the children and even some wives. He said that although there may be some hitches, the scholarship and welfare schemes are operating effectively. “I don’t want to join issue with anyone. What you are saying is too generic. There are more than 500 packages ranging from development fund, death insurance which are paid on pro rata basis. “There are people who do not take time to ask for their entitlements or how to go about pursuing it. I want you to tell me about these people. Some came to army. I won’t respond to you if they didn’t come out. Picture of the Nigerian army in the north-east We have nothing to hide. We are bound to have hitches here and there. The issue is how do we avoid it. “Even the children are entitled to scholarship. During the time of payments of scholarships, some have more than one wife and more than the required four children. Meanwhile, four children are in the policy. While some of the families have moved on, with life returning to normal for them, for others life is never the same. They are waiting for the day when the federal government will remember them and help them. “My siblings and I would continue to assist our mother to sell in her shop, as we have been withdrawn from private to a public school. My father used to say that we must all be educated, and our mother has promised to do all within her power to send us to school. We will grow up and make her proud,” an excited 13-year-old Idayat Ibrahim said to us