About two armed groups operating in Northern Nigeria recruited more than 1,120 children as foot soldiers and sex slaves in the North-East in 2024, the United Nations Children’s Fund has said.
UNICEF Child Protection Manager, Tarek Akkad, disclosed this on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Borno State, to mark the 2026 Red Alert Day, the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers.
He said the figure comprised 525 boys and 595 girls recruited across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
Akkad described the practice as a grave violation of international law, noting that despite progress made in recent years, the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict remained widespread.
Citing the UN Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict, he said the violation was among the most persistent abuses against children.
He called for the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and urged governments, civil society organisations and international bodies to strengthen prevention and accountability measures.
According to him, children associated with armed groups should be treated primarily as victims and transferred safely to civilian child protection authorities.
He added that support from government, UNICEF and development partners had helped affected children to recover and rebuild their lives.
