Nigeria has been listed among countries with some of the highest cases of child recruitment by armed groups, according to the United Nations.
The disclosure comes ahead of the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, observed annually on February 12, as the UN expressed concern over the continued exploitation of children in armed conflicts worldwide.
The UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, described the recruitment of children as one of the most widespread and devastating violations in conflict settings.
“In 2024 alone, over 7,400 children were recruited or used by armed forces and armed groups, and those are only the verified cases. Over the last 30 years, we have separated over 220,000 children from armed gangs,” she said.
Nigeria was named alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Syria and Myanmar as countries where violations against children are most prevalent.
For more than a decade, parts of northern Nigeria have experienced insurgency, with armed groups such as Boko Haram and its factions accused of recruiting children as fighters, informants and for other roles. Although military operations have weakened some groups, humanitarian agencies warn that children in conflict-affected communities remain vulnerable.
Ms Frazier noted that the reported figures represent real children whose lives have been disrupted. “Each number in our report representing a child whose innocence has been interrupted,” she said, adding that verified cases likely account for only a fraction of the actual incidents.
She explained that her office monitors about 26 conflict situations globally, with the highest number of violations recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria and Myanmar.
Beyond documentation, she said the UN engages armed groups to secure the release of children and facilitate their safe return. “Once separated, UNICEF and our partners work on their reintegration, ensuring they receive psychosocial support, access to education and the chance to reclaim their childhood.”
However, reintegration often presents challenges, particularly for girls who may face stigma on returning to their communities.
“For societal reasons, some girls cannot be fully reintegrated and are considered damaged goods,” she said. Ms Frazier stressed that prevention is key to ending child recruitment, noting that access to education plays a critical role.
She said when children are out of school, they become highly vulnerable to recruitment, whether forced or coerced. Highlighting the importance of accountability, she added that prosecuting those responsible sends a strong message.
“When warlords or armed group leaders are prosecuted and sentenced for recruiting children, including in national courts and at least three cases before the International Criminal Court, it sends a powerful message.”
Reflecting on her visits to conflict zones, including meetings with survivors of Boko Haram abductions in Nigeria, she said, “You hear about a 13-year-old girl holding her baby, and you realise how deeply conflict steals childhood. Children are the epitome of innocence. They have not taken sides in any war, yet their innocence and childhood have both been interrupted. Children should never be treated as collateral of war.”
She emphasised that protecting children through education, reintegration and accountability measures remains essential to building sustainable peace.
