The UN says it has negotiated the release of 876 children in Nigeria, who were being held by the army over possible links to Islamist militants.
Reports say the children, who had previously lived in areas controlled by Boko Haram, were held in a military barracks in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri.
It was not immediately clear how long the children had been held, according to Reuters, the army routinely detains civilians who have been living in areas that had been ruled by the insurgents on suspicion that they too might be linked to militant activities.
However, rights groups say there is no proper legal process for such civilians, including the children, since they do not get formally charged and some end up in so-called rehabilitation centers, which the groups say are like prisons.
Human rights groups are worried there might still be more children being held by the army.
UNICEF’S regional director for Western and Central Africa, told reporters by telephone that they feared there are still kids who are being at least temporarily detained because they are being released from Boko Haram areas by the army but then kept for a while.
Earlier this month, 21 of the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram two years ago were released and reunited with their families.
