MORE THAN 100,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE LATEST ESCALATION IN EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, UNICEF SAID ON SUNDAY, WARNING THE NUMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO RISE AS VIOLENCE SPREADS.(PHOTO).

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 More than 100,000 children have been displaced by the latest escalation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, UNICEF said on Sunday, warning the numbers are expected to rise as violence spreads. Since Dec. 1, intense fighting has uprooted more than 500,000 people, with children accounting for over 100,000 of those displaced in South Kivu alone, the UN agency said in a statement released Sunday. It said since Dec. 2, hundreds have been killed in the fighting, and children have been among the victims, with four students killed, six injured, and at least seven schools attacked or damaged. The rapid escalation has forced hundreds of thousands of children and families to flee within Congo and into neighboring Burundi and Rwanda, it added. Many people fleeing the violence have crossed into Burundi, with over 50,000 new arrivals reported between Dec. 6 and 11, nearly half of them children, UNICEF said, adding that the numbers are expected to rise as more displaced are identified. “Chi...

GUNMEN RELEASE FIVE ADDITIONAL HOSTAGES FROM THE KADUNA TRAIN ATTACK.(PHOTO).


Train Attack: Gunmen Release Five Additional Hostages

The gunmen who attacked a Kaduna-bound train in March and abducted several passengers released five more hostages on Tuesday.

The release of the hostages comes after the terrorists released four of the victims last week Monday.

A newspaper publisher, Tukur Mamu, who had previously negotiated the release of some of the captives, confirmed the release of the five hostages to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Mamu identified the released hostages as Mustapha Imam, a professor from Usman Danfodio University Sokoto, Akibu Lawal; Abubakar Rufai; Mukthar Shu’aibu; and Sidi Sharif.

Mr Mamu said the released hostages visited his office on Tuesday afternoon to thank him for his efforts in securing their release.

Mr Mamu said he had withdrawn as lead negotiator for the release of the captives due to threats to his life, personal integrity and (alleged) lack of support from the Federal Government.

The released hostages
The released hostages
Also, he said he does not know if the relatives of the hostages paid a ransom before they were released.

He said with the release of the five, 34 of the victims are still being held in the forest.

The son of a former military governor of Kano State, Idris Garba, his wife and children and many others are reportedly among those still being held.


 

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