Child Soldiers in Nigeria

It is simple to assert that children have no business participating in violent conflict; however, the reality is considerably different. The long list of actions carried out by kids in conflict zones is widely documented, as are the effects and trauma. Many youngsters are forced into participating in wars. Other children are coerced due to harsh socio-economic and humanitarian conditions. Removing children from these circumstances has proven difficult and has continued to fuel extremist machinery.

Before the surge in armed conflict in Northeast Nigeria, child soldiery was prevalent in the South-South zone, primarily emanating from the Niger Delta militancy. However, with the rise of Boko Haram activities in the Northeast, there has been a shift in focus to their recruitment and use of child soldiers by extremists in the region. The actions of various armed groups have created a niche for the demand and recruitment of child soldiers. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), armed groups nationwide have recruited at least 8,000 boys and girls since 2009. Boko Haram group, in particular, remains a major recruiter of child soldiers. Following various military offensives by the Nigerian army, the need to fill in for fallen extremists creates a demand for child soldiers. The Konduga town attack in 2019 brought to light the use of child soldiers in a triple suicide attack, leading to at least thirty people dying.

It is deducible that certain factors account for the availability and use of child soldiers by armed groups. A country with a significant part of the demographic below the poverty line indicates an easy disposition for cash rewards. Also, the practice of the Almajiri system in the Northern region indicates a great pool of out-of-school children susceptible to the antics of violent armed groups. Various responses abound over the recruitment of child soldiers, especially by armed groups. The United Nations assessed the situation as being unacceptable and immoral. In collaboration with the UN, the Nigerian government has approached the crisis by upscaling security measures, especially in Northern Nigeria; however, these efforts have failed in stamping out the child soldiers phenomenon.

The Nigerian government must take a multi-faceted approach to address armed groups’ surging activities. This approach must be through establishing child protection and welfare agencies that can police and cater for children, especially in identified conflict-prone areas. Furthermore, a reactive approach to the crisis should involve the creation of frameworks for reintegrating children rescued from armed groups. In addition, the prioritisation of human capital development by successive governments can reduce the pool of out-of-school children vulnerable to recruitment by non-state armed groups.