US names Nigeria among countries linked to child soldier recruitment…

The United States has listed Nigeria among countries affected by child soldier recruitment, warning that the country could face restrictions on military assistance.

According to Peoples Gazette, the US Department of State disclosed this in its 2026 Trafficking in Persons report, citing recruitment by Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.

The report revealed that children as young as 12 are being recruited for combat, spying, domestic work and suicide bombing.

“Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa continue recruiting, abducting, and using—including through force, fraud, and coercion—child soldiers as young as 12 years old as cooks, domestic workers, spies, porters, messengers, bodyguards or guards at checkpoints, “morality police,” armed combatants, and suicide bombers in attacks in Nigeria,” it stated.

The US warned that listed countries could face restrictions on security assistance and military equipment sales under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act.

The restrictions took effect on October 1, 2026, subject to presidential waivers and statutory exceptions.