UN Lists Nigeria Among Countries with Highest Child Soldier Recruitment

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 stated.

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.

Frazier noted that the reported figures represent real children whose lives have been disrupted. Each number in our report represents 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 approximately 26 conflict situations around the world, with the highest number of violations recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria and Myanmar.

Beyond documenting violations, Frazier’s office engages directly with combatants to negotiate the release of children and their safe return home. One of the strengths of our mandate is that we can negotiate directly with armed groups for the handover of children. 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 stated.

Frazier stressed that prevention is key to ending child recruitment, noting that access to education plays a critical role. Prevention is better than cure. This is why we really do advocate that even in times of war and armed conflict, children must remain in school. When they are out of school, they become very vulnerable to recruitment, whether forced or not, she explained.

Highlighting the importance of accountability, she added that prosecuting those responsible sends a strong message. One of the greatest tools of deterrence is justice and accountability. 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. When you hear these stories, you realise those numbers in our reports are individuals, children who were supposed to have their whole future ahead of them.

Frazier spoke with emotion about her commitment to this cause. 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. The sustainability of peace depends on children’s ability to move forward. They must be able to return to school, to dream, and to aspire to meaningful futures, she added.

The European Union, African Union, and United Nations issued a joint statement on the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all children from the ranks of armed forces and armed groups.

The organizations reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children affected by armed conflict and to ending and preventing their recruitment by armed forces and armed groups. All actors in conflict situations were asked to fully comply with international law, unconditionally release all children from their ranks, and to ensure that they are treated as victims.

The EU, AU, and UN said criminalizing the recruitment and use of children and putting in place prevention measures, such as age verification mechanisms, are also fundamental to eradicating the problem.

The United Nations, in 2024, verified the recruitment and use of 7,402 children by parties to conflict, while girls faced risks, including forced marriage and sexual exploitation.

Nigeria’s northeastern states, particularly Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, have borne the brunt of Boko Haram insurgency since 2009. The conflict has displaced millions of people, destroyed infrastructure, and disrupted education systems, leaving children particularly vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.

Children recruited by insurgent groups face physical danger, psychological trauma, and loss of educational opportunities. Many are forced to serve as combatants, suicide bombers, cooks, porters, or slaves. Girls kidnapped by armed groups often face sexual violence, forced marriage, and exploitation.

The Nigerian military and international partners have conducted operations aimed at degrading insurgent capabilities and rescuing abducted persons. However, the conflict persists in various forms, with splinter groups including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continuing operations despite territorial losses.

Rehabilitation and reintegration programs for former child soldiers face numerous challenges including community stigma, inadequate funding, insufficient psychosocial services, and limited educational opportunities. Many communities struggle to accept returning children, particularly girls who have been victims of sexual violence or who return with children born during captivity.

International organizations including UNICEF, International Committee of the Red Cross, and various non-governmental organizations work with Nigerian authorities on programs supporting separated children through education, vocational training, psychosocial counseling, and community reconciliation initiatives.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict prohibit recruitment and use of children under 18 years by armed groups. Nigeria ratified these instruments but faces implementation challenges amid ongoing security threats.

As the conversation ended, Frazier reiterated her conviction that education, justice and hope remain the pillars of peace. Children should be able to continue with their innocence even during times of conflict. It is about ensuring a sustainable and peaceful future for the world.