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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners in the Northeast have called for strengthening of accountability mechanisms against those who recruit and exploit children in armed conflict in Nigeria.
They made the call at the commemoration of the 2026 Red Hand Day, organised in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital yesterday to step up campaigns against use of children in armed conflict- in any capacity.
UNICEF Child Protection Manager, Mr Tarek Akkad said recruitment of boys and girls by armed groups in Nigeria remains a persistent violation despite progress made through advocacy.
He maintained the situation underscores the urgent need for prevention, accountability and sustained reintegration support for child victims who either escaped from armed groups’ camps or were rescued.
“Stop the use of children in armed conflict. Stop the exploitation of children in war. Our responsibility is clear; to strengthen accountability mechanisms against those who recruit and exploit children,” he declared in his speech.
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He said armed groups continue to conscript and use children in different ways including child soldiers, sex slaves, to carry out domestic chores among others.
Akkad noted that such exploitation has almost toppled the dreams of the children and impacted their future.
He said a total of 1,120 children were recruited last year alone by armed groups in the Northeast affected by nearly two decades of insurgency. According to him, the figure consists of 525 boys and 595 girls.
Representatives of other development partners engaged in child protection programmes in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, reveal sordid details of the psychological disposition of some of the children victims of armed groups recruitments.
They highlighted these negative traits such as eagerness to draw guns, ability to quickly recognize explosives, mortar shells, aggressiveness and lack of empathy. They said most of them have never seen the four walls of a classroom in their lifetime.
The Red Hand Day is commemorated globally on February 12 to raise awareness and raise voice against recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts.
