Sunday, February 15 2026 - 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 emphasized that protecting children through education,
reintegration and accountability measures remains essential to building
sustainable peace.
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