Residents of Borno State have expressed alarm after a video circulated online showing underage children, believed to be linked to terrorist groups, dressed in military camouflage and gathered in a remote forest. The footage, which surfaced on Monday, shows about 18 children standing in formation while celebrating in what appears to be an isolated location.
Although the exact location has not been confirmed, some residents believe the language spoken by the children suggests they may be from the Ngoshe axis of Gwoza Local Government Area in southern Borno. Reacting on Facebook, youth leader Junaid Jibril Maiva, Secretary of the Coalition of Borno South APC Youth Group, warned that the development could pose serious security risks if left unchecked. He urged the government to act quickly, describing the situation as a “ticking time bomb.”
Another social media user, Muhammad Abdulrahman, suggested that the children might be victims being held hostage by insurgents, which could complicate any immediate military response. According to him, the presence of captives may explain why security forces cannot simply launch an operation against the group.
Responding to the concerns, the Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, said many children seen with armed groups are often victims who were abducted during attacks. She noted that the state government had previously implemented programmes to discourage child recruitment, including free education, awareness campaigns and rehabilitation initiatives. Her remarks come amid warnings from UNICEF that more than 1,100 children were recruited by armed groups in northeastern Nigeria in 2024, highlighting the ongoing risks facing children in the conflict-affected region.