The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has revealed that nearly 60% of those impacted by the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East are children and young people.
Cheikh Ousmane Toure, UNODC’s Country Director in Nigeria, made this known on Monday in Maiduguri during the 5th World Congress on Justice with Children. The event, themed “Advancing Child-Centred Justice: Preventing and Responding to Violence Affecting Children in Justice Systems,” was organized in partnership with the governments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States and funded by the European Union.
Toure noted that since the insurgency began in 2009, children in the region have suffered the most—facing abductions, human trafficking, and forced recruitment into armed and criminal groups. He cited reports showing that at least 1,385 children were recruited between 2017 and 2019 alone.
“This is not just about numbers. Every statistic represents a child whose life, dignity, and future are in jeopardy,” he said. “About 60 percent of those affected are youths. The future of Nigeria depends on protecting and empowering its young population.”
Also speaking at the event, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, represented by the Commissioner for Justice, Hauwa Mohammed, emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing children in all policy decisions, especially those concerning juvenile justice.
He acknowledged the deep physical, emotional, and psychological toll the conflict has had on children and pledged that his administration would not allow them to be used as child soldiers. He assured that the Ministries of Justice, Women’s Affairs, and Social Development would work together to protect children’s rights, ensure access to education and welfare, and shield them from forced labor and exploitation.
The call for action underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to safeguard the region’s most vulnerable population amid the prolonged crisis.
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