The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that about 60% of those affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East are youths, many of whom have been abducted, trafficked, or forcibly recruited into armed groups.

UNODC’s Country Director in Nigeria, Cheikh Ousmane Toure, highlighted the urgent need for sustained action to protect children and youths affected by violence, particularly in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.

The Youth Peace Champions initiative, supported by UNODC, empowers young leaders to advocate for peace and child protection, promoting justice that restores rather than retraumatizes.

Borno State officials pledged to prioritize children’s rights and protection, ensuring no child is recruited as a soldier and enhancing collaboration for education, welfare, and justice.