UNICEF: Boko Haram, others recruited 1,120 as child soldiers, sex-slaves in Nigeria in 2024

THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has sounded the alarm over the sustained recruitment of children by insurgent factions operating in Nigeria’s North-East, revealing that no fewer than 1,120 minors were drawn into non-state armed groups in 2024 for roles ranging from combat duties to sexual exploitation.

The figures were disclosed in Maiduguri by UNICEF’s Child Protection Manager, Mr Tarek Akkad, during activities commemorating the 2026 Red Hand Day, an annual global campaign that seeks to mobilise action against the use of children in warfare.

According to Mr Akkad, the children recruited during the year under review included 595 girls and 525 boys, many of whom were forced into frontline operations, logistics support, intelligence gathering, and domestic servitude. Girls, he noted, are frequently subjected to sexual violence, forced marriages and other forms of abuse within the ranks of extremist groups.

He described the trend as a grave violation of children’s rights and a continuing tragedy for families and communities already weakened by more than a decade of conflict in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“The continued recruitment of children into armed groups is one of the most devastating consequences of protracted conflict,” Akkad said. “These are children who should be in classrooms, playing with their peers, and building their futures, not carrying weapons or being exposed to unspeakable violence.”

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The North-East has battled insurgency for over a decade, with communities repeatedly displaced, livelihoods disrupted and social services stretched thin. In such fragile conditions, children are often left particularly vulnerable to manipulation, coercion and forced conscription by armed actors promising protection, money or a sense of belonging.

Mr Akkad noted that although international conventions and national frameworks prohibit the recruitment of children into armed conflict, enforcement remains a major challenge in areas where state authority is weak or contested. He stressed that the persistence of the practice shows that legal commitments alone are insufficient without sustained political will, funding and grassroots engagement.

“Despite significant progress in international law and sustained advocacy, children are still being used as instruments of war,” he said. “This reality calls for stronger preventive measures, improved community surveillance systems, and expanded rehabilitation services for those who have escaped.”

He referenced recent United Nations reports indicating that the 1,120 cases recorded in North-East Nigeria form part of a broader global crisis. Worldwide, an estimated 250,000 children remain associated with armed forces and groups in various conflict zones, serving as fighters, porters, spies or sex slaves.

The UNICEF official emphasised that the impact of such experiences extends far beyond the battlefield. Many of the affected children suffer long-term psychological trauma, stigma from their communities and disrupted education, making reintegration a complex and delicate process.

“Rehabilitation and reintegration are just as important as prevention,” Akkad said. “Former child soldiers need psychosocial support, access to education and vocational training, and acceptance within their communities if we are to break the cycle of violence.”

He explained that UNICEF, in collaboration with government agencies and humanitarian partners, continues to provide child protection services in the region, including family tracing, counselling, and support for community-based reintegration programmes. However, he warned that resources remain insufficient compared to the scale of need.

Marking Red Hand Day, Mr Akkad described the red handprint symbol as more than a protest sign. According to him, it represents a global moral stand against the exploitation of children and a reminder of collective responsibility.

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“The red handprint is a call to conscience,’ he said. ‘It urges governments, armed actors and communities alike to say ‘no’ to the recruitment of children and yes to safeguarding their futures.”

He concluded with an appeal to stakeholders at all levels, from policymakers to traditional leaders, to intensify efforts aimed at preventing child recruitment and ensuring accountability for violations.

‘No child should have to choose between survival and innocence,” Akkad said. “Protecting children from the horrors of war is not optional; it is an obligation we all share.”