US Threatens Aid Restrictions Over Child Soldier Recruitment in Nigeria

 The United States has warned that Nigeria could face restrictions on certain forms of security assistance over the recruitment and use of children by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The warning was contained in the US Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on Nigeria, which identified children as young as 12 years among those recruited and exploited by the terrorist groups.

According to the report, the groups recruit, abduct and use children for various activities, including spying, cooking, domestic work, carrying supplies, delivering messages and guarding checkpoints.

The report also said some children were deployed as armed combatants and suicide bombers in attacks across Nigeria.

It listed Cameroon, Chad and Niger among other countries where children were reportedly recruited and used by non-state armed groups.

The report added that the affected children were subjected to physical and sexual abuse, as well as forced drug use.

It further highlighted the abduction and exploitation of women and girls in northern Nigeria, noting that some were subjected to forced labour, domestic servitude and sexual slavery.

According to the report, Boko Haram had kidnapped thousands of women and girls and subjected them to forced marriages, sexual slavery and forced labour.

It added that the terrorist group punished some girls for refusing to marry by forcing them to carry out suicide bombings.

The US government said countries identified under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) could face restrictions on certain security assistance and the commercial licensing of military equipment.

The restrictions cover programmes such as International Military Education and Training, Foreign Military Financing, Excess Defence Articles and Peacekeeping Operations, subject to applicable exceptions.

The Act also prohibits licences for direct commercial sales of military equipment to governments identified under its provisions.

The report stated that the restrictions would take effect from Oct. 1, 2026, unless a presidential waiver, an applicable exception or reinstatement of assistance under the Act’s provisions applied.