The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns over the continued recruitment of children in the North-East, revealing that 595 girls and 525 boys were forcibly enlisted by armed groups in 2024, despite years of advocacy and reintegration programmes.

UNICEF Child Protection Manager, Mr Tarek Akkad, disclosed this in Maiduguri on Wednesday during the 2026 Red Hand Day commemoration, an event dedicated to global action against the use of child soldiers.

He noted that the recruitment of children is a “persistent and deeply damaging violation” that continues to shape the realities of conflict-affected communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“These are verified cases. Behind every number is a child whose education, safety and future were interrupted,” Akkad said, noting that the figures were drawn from the latest report of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict.

He explained that boys and girls are recruited for different roles, ranging from forced labour to support duties, with long-term psychological and social consequences.

According to him, although hundreds of children have benefited from reintegration, psychosocial care and educational support, many communities remain vulnerable due to overstretched protection systems.

“There is an urgent need to strengthen prevention, ensure accountability for recruiters and fully implement handover protocols so that rescued children are treated strictly as victims and handed over to civilian protection authorities,” he added.

Akkad also highlighted the global dimension of the crisis, pointing out that an estimated 250,000 children are currently involved in armed conflicts worldwide, a figure he described as a “grim reminder of the scale of the problem.”

The gathering drew government officials, humanitarian partners and child rights defenders, all calling attention to what remains one of the most alarming consequences of the prolonged insurgency.

Red Hand Day, observed annually on February 12, marks the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the involvement of children in armed conflict.

The red handprint symbol, repeatedly referenced throughout the event, served as a reminder of global demands for an end to child soldiering.

UNICEF called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, traditional leaders and local communities to protect children and ensure lasting reintegration for those affected.

During the event, some formerly recruited children shared brief testimonies about their experiences, recounting how intervention programmes helped them return home, resume schooling and rebuild their confidence. (TRIBUNE)