… Over 7,400 Children Recruited Globally In 2024 Alone
…Nigeria Listed With DRC, Somalia, Syria, Myanmar
Daud Olatunji
Nigeria has been listed among countries with some of the highest cases of child recruitment by armed groups, the United Nations has disclosed, raising fresh concerns over the vulnerability of children in conflict-affected communities.
The global body made the revelation ahead of the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers marked annually on February 12, warning that thousands of children are still being forced or lured into armed conflicts across the world.
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 zones.
In an interview with UN News, Frazier said that in 2024 alone, over 7,400 children were recruited or used by armed forces and armed groups worldwide, noting that the figure represents only verified cases.
“Over the last 30 years, we have separated over 220,000 children from armed gangs,” she said, stressing that the statistics reflect real lives disrupted by violence.
Nigeria was listed alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Syria and Myanmar as countries where grave violations against children are most prevalent.
Nigeria’s Protracted Conflict
For over a decade, Nigeria has battled insurgency in parts of the North-East, with armed groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter factions accused of recruiting children as fighters, informants, cooks and suicide bombers.
Although sustained military operations have weakened some of the groups, humanitarian agencies warn that children in conflict-hit communities remain highly exposed to recruitment, abduction and other forms of exploitation.
Frazier noted that her office currently 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.
“Each number in our report represents a child whose innocence has been interrupted,” she said, adding that verified cases likely represent only a fraction of the actual scale.
Beyond documenting abuses, the UN said it engages armed actors to negotiate the release of children and facilitate their safe return to society.
According to Frazier, once separated, children are supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund and partners through psychosocial care, education and community reintegration programmes.
However, reintegration remains a major hurdle, particularly for girls.
She noted that girls returning from captivity often face stigma and rejection, especially those who come back with children born during captivity.
“For societal reasons, some girls cannot be fully reintegrated and are considered damaged goods,” she lamented.
The UN official stressed that prevention remains the ultimate solution, emphasising that children must remain in school even during conflicts.
“When children are out of school, they become very vulnerable to recruitment, whether forced or not,” she said.
She also underscored the need for justice and accountability, noting that prosecutions — including cases before the International Criminal Court send a strong message to armed groups that the recruitment of children carries consequences.
Reflecting on her visits to conflict zones, including meetings with survivors of Boko Haram abductions in Nigeria, Frazier said encounters with affected children reveal the deep scars of war.
“You hear about a 13-year-old girl holding her baby, and you realise how deeply conflict steals childhood,” she said. “Children should never be treated as collateral of war.”
The UN maintained that protecting children through sustained education, reintegration efforts and strict accountability measures is critical to building lasting peace in Nigeria and other conflict-affected countries.
Source: Premium Times
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