CHILD SOLDIERS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The U.S. State Department's 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report has raised concerns over child soldiers and human trafficking in Nigeria. Despite some progress, Nigeria's anti-trafficking record has failed to meet minimum standards for the 15th consecutive year. The report named Nigeria alongside other nations, including Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, South Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, for their involvement in recruiting and using child soldiers.

Nigeria's indictment under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) stems from the rampant recruitment and abduction of children by terrorist groups, primarily Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). This indictment could lead to sanctions, such as cuts in military training, weapons sales, and defense cooperation. Nigeria has been placed on the 'Tier 2 Watch List,' a category reserved for countries that do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's minimum standards.

Child soldiers are often recruited by non-state armed groups, including Boko Haram and ISWAP, due to their vulnerability driven by poverty and lack of access to education. These children are used for various roles, such as combatants, spies, messengers, and sex slaves. The recruitment of children into these armed groups not only abuses their innocence but also undermines the country's future.

Nigeria remains a source, transit, and destination for trafficking, with women and girls often trafficked to Europe for sex work and children from rural areas forced to work as domestic slaves in urban centers. While authorities like the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) are working to combat these issues, more needs to be done to prevent child soldiers and human trafficking in the country.