The Digest:
The United Nations has listed Nigeria among countries with the highest cases of child recruitment by armed groups, ahead of the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers on February 12. UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, told UN News that over 7,400 children were verified as recruited or used by armed forces and groups in 2024 alone. Nigeria was listed alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Syria, and Myanmar as countries where violations against children are most prevalent. For over a decade, armed groups including Boko Haram have been accused of recruiting children as fighters and informants in Nigeria's northern region. Frazier stressed that verified cases represent only a fraction of actual incidents, with reintegration challenges particularly acute for girls who face stigma.
Key Points:
- Thousands of Nigerian children continue to be robbed of childhood and forced into armed conflict.
- It perpetuates cycles of violence and trauma across affected communities in northern Nigeria.
- Child victims bear lifelong psychological scars, while communities struggle with reintegration.
- This signals persistent failure to protect vulnerable children despite years of counter-insurgency operations.
- The timing, on International Day Against Child Soldiers, amplifies urgency for stronger prevention measures.
Sources: Premium Times
