Police Move to Curb Rising Use of Children by Armed Groups

The Nigeria Police Force has intensified efforts to combat the growing involvement of children in armed conflict, launching a specialised pre-deployment training for officers assigned to conflict-affected regions. 

The week-long programme, held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, focused on preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed actors across the country.

Declaring the training open, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, represented by AIG Training and Development, Aminu Baba Raji, warned that the use of children by armed groups has become a serious security and human rights concern. 

He noted that children are increasingly exploited as fighters, informants, couriers, and in other support roles, exposing them to severe trauma and long-term psychological harm.

Partnering with the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, the programme equipped officers with tools to detect early signs of child recruitment, disrupt trafficking networks, and ensure that children associated with armed groups are treated first as victims, not perpetrators. 

International facilitators and certified Nigeria Police trainers led the sessions.

The IGP emphasized that child recruitment is a “grave violation” that not only endangers young lives but also fuels insecurity by strengthening the operational capacity of armed groups. 

He tasked officers to adopt confidentiality, empathy, and gender-responsive methods when handling such cases, especially during internal security operations.

The training also reinforced existing police child-protection frameworks, including the Safer Schools Programme and POCACOV. At its close, 25 officers were certified for deployment to high-risk environments.

IGP Egbetokun expressed appreciation to partners for supporting the initiative and reassured Nigerians of the Force’s commitment to protecting children and preventing their use in armed conflict through sustained training and collaboration.