A disturbing video circulating widely on social media has triggered anger and concern across Nigeria after it showed several young boys dressed in military-style uniforms and handling firearms in a forested area of Borno State.
The footage, which surfaced online in recent days, shows dozens of children standing in lines while performing drills and chanting in what appears to be a paramilitary training session.Many of the boys appear to be very young, with some estimated to be around nine years old.Information made available to Politics Nigeria from observers, suggest the video points to a troubling pattern of child recruitment by terrorist groups operating in the North-East.
In the clip, the children are seen wearing camouflage uniforms similar to those used by the Nigerian military.
Some of the uniforms appear oversized, raising suspicion that they may have been looted from fallen soldiers or abandoned military equipment during attacks on security formations in the region.
Security analysts believe the footage is likely linked to insurgent groups such as Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), both of which have operated in Borno and surrounding states for over a decade.These groups have repeatedly been accused of recruiting minors and using them for combat, intelligence gathering, and propaganda.
Local sources in Borno said the language spoken by some of the children in the video suggests they may be from communities around the Ngoshe axis in Gwoza Local Government Area. The area has recently witnessed renewed attacks by insurgents, including raids on villages and military bases.
There are growing fears that some of the boys seen in the footage could be among residents recently abducted during attacks in the region. Just days ago, terrorists reportedly invaded communities in Gwoza, killing several people and abducting hundreds of villagers, including women and children.Community leaders and security watchers say the use of children in militant propaganda is a deliberate strategy by insurgents. Experts warn that exposing minors to weapons and military drills at an early age is aimed at indoctrinating them and preparing them to become future fighters.
One security expert noted that the appearance of children in uniform also serves as psychological warfare. According to him, it is meant to project strength and show that the insurgent groups still have a steady stream of recruits despite sustained military operations against them.
Human rights advocates have also condemned the development, describing it as a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
The recruitment or use of children in armed conflict is considered a serious abuse under global child protection conventions.
Officials of the Borno State government say many children caught in such situations are victims rather than willing participants. Authorities say insurgent groups often abduct minors from schools, homes, or the streets before forcing them into training camps.
