Borno Missing Children Crisis Sparks Fears of Boko Haram Recruitment

The rising number of missing children in Borno State has fueled concerns about Boko Haram’s recruitment tactics. A viral video showed a young boy undergoing military training alongside other children in a forest near Ajiri, Mafa LGA, demonstrating advanced weapon-handling skills. Residents shared distressing accounts of missing children, while authorities confirmed frequent disappearances. Security officials downplayed claims of ongoing child soldier recruitment, attributing such activities to ISWAP. Meanwhile, the #BringBackOurGirls movement renewed calls for the release of findings on the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, with 78 girls still unaccounted for.