By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja
Nigeria has been named among the five countries with the highest number of children recruited into armed groups, the United Nations has said, warning that the global crisis of children caught in conflict is worsening at an alarming rate.
The disclosure was made in an interview with UN News ahead of the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers by the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier.
Frazier described the recruitment and use of minors as one of the most widespread and grave violations of children’s rights globally.
“In 2024 alone, over 7,400 children were recruited or used by armed forces and armed groups — and those are only the verified cases,” she said.
According to the UN, the countries with the highest number of violations include Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, and Myanmar.
The organisation also raised concerns about emerging patterns in Sudan, where children are reportedly being used as border guards and frontline fighters.
Frazier said the figures represent real human tragedies.
“Each number in our report represents a child whose innocence has been interrupted,” she noted.
In Nigeria, insurgent violence in the northeast has exposed thousands of children to abduction and forced recruitment by armed groups, including Boko Haram, leaving long-term psychological and social scars on affected communities.
The UN said that over the past 30 years, its children and armed conflict mandate has helped secure the release of more than 220,000 children from armed groups worldwide.
Following their release, UNICEF and partner organisations provide rehabilitation services, including psychosocial support, education, and community reintegration.
However, the agency warned that reintegration remains challenging, particularly for girls who often face stigma or rejection after returning from captivity.
Frazier stressed the need for stronger prevention measures, saying governments and partners must prioritise protecting children and addressing the root causes of recruitment.
She added that without urgent action, more children risk losing their childhoods to armed conflict.
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