The United States has listed Nigeria among 14 countries identified for recruiting or using child soldiers, warning that the designation could trigger restrictions on certain forms of military assistance. The listing is contained in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report covering April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
In response, the Nigeria Police Force has trained 30 officers in drone technology to strengthen operations against terrorism and banditry. Meanwhile, the Senate announced that its National Security Summit will hold from Oct. 12 to Oct. 13, themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s National Security Architecture: Innovation, Collaboration and Resilience in a Changing World.”
The Federal Government rejects the child soldier allegation, saying no state policy supports such recruitment, but rights groups like Amnesty are urging investigation of past Imo custody deaths. The summit at the National Assembly is expected to produce new legislative proposals on state police and intelligence sharing.
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