NOA warns of bandits’ plans to recruit child soldiers

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has raised the alarm over the alleged recruitment of child soldiers by bandits in Nasarawa State.

The Director of the Agency, Mrs Priscilla Gondu-Alluor, made the revelation during a courtesy visit on Breeze 99.9 FM, situated at Maina Estate, behind the Correctional Service headquarters in Lafia.

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She appealed for intensive public enlightenment on the recruitment of child soldiers by bandits in the state, urging parents to pay adequate attention to their wards.

According to her, child soldiering portends great danger to the state and the nation at large. Considering security challenges in some parts of the country, the state wouldn’t be an exception.

Responding on behalf of the management of Breeze FM, the station’s head of News and Current Affairs, Mr Edwin Philip, opined that the station would sustain its drive on curbing cyberbullying and election violence while assuring the State Directorate of the NOA of continued enlightenment of the citizenry.  According to him, Save the Children International reported in 2018 that over 65,000 children were recruited as child soldiers for suicide bombing, sexual exploitation, and domestic service among others.