Blinken Condemns Boko Haram's use of Children for Terrorist Attacks

Mr Blinken, who will on Saturday lead a US delegate to a Regional Security Summit holding in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital described the act as ‘heinous and horrific’.

He told reporters on Friday that the United States was working with the Nigerian government to spot and stop such attacks before they occur.

The American noted that the security summit was another opportunity for frank conversation and deeper collaboration among regional states and partners on common shared priorities.

These priorities, according to the US Deputy Secretary of State, include humanitarian assistance, stabilised efforts for liberated communities and security cooperation.

Some of the suicide bombings that occurred in the last few months were said to have been carried out by children.

Nigeria is hosting the second regional security meeting in Abuja to consolidate efforts for regional peace and development. The summit commenced on Thursday.

The Multi-National Joint Task Force Commander has drawn the attention of member states to the need for improved allowances for the troops and purchase of equipment for detecting and destroying IEDs.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission is asking member states to begin to fix attention on developmental programmes which will address the root causes of insecurity in the region.