Boko Haram Abducts Children to Replace Fighters

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said Boko Haram replenishes its ranks by abducting children from villages whenever the terrorist group suffers heavy losses.

Bwala made the statement on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he explained the challenges surrounding the rehabilitation of former insurgents.

Terrorism. Credit:
The Guardian Nigeria.

According to him, many of the children recruited by the insurgents are forced into the group against their will before some eventually escape and surrender to the Nigerian Government.

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He said such individuals are not treated as combatants to be killed but are handled in line with international humanitarian principles.

Bwala noted that the rehabilitation process is guided by relevant United Nations conventions governing armed conflict.

Responding to concerns that some rehabilitated ex-insurgents could return to terrorism, he acknowledged that cases of recidivism have occurred.

He recalled comments by the Borno State governor suggesting that some renewed attacks may have involved former insurgents who returned to the terrorist group.

The presidential aide, however, said defections and the return of rehabilitated fighters are realities observed in armed conflicts worldwide, including within established state institutions and intelligence services.

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