The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has revealed that approximately 60% of those affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria's Northeast region are youths and children, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the conflict on vulnerable populations.

This alarming statistic was disclosed by UNODC Country Director in Nigeria, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, during the 5th World Congress on Justice with Children held in Maiduguri on Monday. The event, organized in conjunction with the governments of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States with European Union funding, focused on "Advancing Child-Centred Justice: Preventing and Responding to Violence Affecting Children in Justice Systems."

"These figures are not just statistics. Each one represents a child whose life, dignity, and future are at risk," Toure emphasized. "About 60 percent of those affected are youths. Nigeria's development depends on the protection and empowerment of its young population."

Children Recruited as Fighters

According to Toure, children in the three northeastern states have borne the brunt of the insurgency since its inception in 2009. Many have been abducted, trafficked, and forcibly recruited into armed and criminal groups. UN reports indicate that at least 1,385 children were recruited between 2017 and 2019 alone.

The UNODC Country Director called for urgent and sustained action to protect children affected by violence and conflict, particularly in the Northeast where thousands continue to be exploited by terrorist groups.

Borno State's Commitment to Child Protection

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, represented by State Commissioner for Justice Hauwa Mohammed, assured that children would be prioritized in decision-making processes, particularly in matters relating to juvenile justice.

The governor described the event as timely, considering the physical, emotional, and psychological suffering endured by children during the over-decade-long insurgency. He promised that children affected by conflicts would not be allowed to be used or recruited as child soldiers.

Zulum vowed that the state government, through the Ministries of Justice and Women's Affairs and Social Development, would ensure children's rights are protected. He committed to collaborative efforts to secure their education, justice, welfare, and protection against hard labor and exploitation in conflict situations.

The congress serves as a platform for stakeholders to develop more effective strategies for protecting children in conflict zones and ensuring their rights are upheld despite the ongoing security challenges in the region.