The disappearance of children in Borno State has ignited public alarm after a viral video showed a young boy confessing to military training alongside dozens of other children in a forest near Ajiri, Mafa LGA. The boy, seen expertly assembling an AK-47, claimed he and 30 peers were being trained by individuals linked to insurgent groups.
Residents expressed fear that rising child disappearances are tied to insurgent recruitment. Aisha Ali, a mother from Mafa, recounted her agony over her son’s disappearance since 2022. Radio station reports confirm regular announcements about missing children.
State Police spokesperson Nahum Daso acknowledged weekly reports of missing children, adding that many cases have been resolved. However, he downplayed the video, labeling it as outdated and denying current use of child soldiers.
Governor’s Security Adviser Brig. Gen. Abdullahi Sabi Ishaq (retd.) attributed such acts to ISWAP, highlighting the challenges of combating insurgents while minimizing civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, the #BringBackOurGirls movement has renewed demands for the release of the 2014 Chibok abduction investigation report, urging the government to bring closure for the families of 78 still-missing schoolgirls. The group criticized successive administrations for withholding the Sabo committee’s findings and called for transparency in the ongoing search for the girls.
