Outrage Over Viral Video of Child Soldiers in Borno State

A viral video depicting underage children dressed in military uniforms has caused significant outrage among residents of Borno State, Nigeria. The video, which shows 18 children in camouflage, was obtained by a correspondent on Monday and suggests that the children may be from the Ngoshe area of Gwoza Local Government.

Junaid Jibril Maiva, Secretary of the Coalition Borno South APC Youth Group, described the situation as a "ticking time bomb," urging immediate government action to prevent further recruitment of child soldiers. Zuwaira Gambo, the Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, noted that these children may have been forcibly adopted following recent attacks.

She emphasized the government's efforts to prevent child recruitment by armed groups, including the establishment of educational programs and rehabilitation initiatives. UNICEF's Tarek Akkad reported that 1,120 children were recruited by armed groups in the northeast in 2024, highlighting the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat this trend.