Residents in Borno State have expressed deep concern over a viral video showing underage children, suspected to be terrorist child soldiers, dressed in full camouflage in a deserted forest. The video, obtained by our correspondent on Monday, shows about 18 children fully kitted in military uniforms, assembled in a straight line while jubilating in an isolated forest.
While the exact location is yet to be confirmed, residents say the language spoken by the children suggests they may be from the Ngoshe axis in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno South Senatorial District. In a Facebook post early Monday, the Secretary of the Coalition of Borno South APC Youth Group, Junaid Jibril Maiva, described the situation as a ticking time bomb.
However, In February, news men reported that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) raised the alarm over a rise in child soldier recruitment by terrorists in the North East. UNICEF Child Protection Manager, Tarek Akkad, said in 2024 alone, 1,120 children were recruited across the North-East.
