The rising number of missing children in Borno State has sparked widespread concern, particularly following the emergence of a disturbing video featuring a young boy confessing to undergoing military training deep within the forest alongside numerous other children.
Several residents who spoke with Hobnob News have shared harrowing stories of their missing loved ones, fearing that the increasing cases of child disappearances may be directly linked to insurgent recruitment operations.
This development coincides with renewed calls from the #BringBackOurGirls movement, urging the Nigerian government to release findings from the fact-finding committee established to investigate the 2014 abduction of Chibok schoolgirls. A decade later, 78 of the kidnapped girls remain unaccounted for, with campaigners demanding transparency and accountability in the ongoing search efforts.
Disturbing Video Sparks Outrage
A chilling video posted on social media by Zagazola Makama and reportedly recorded on January 22, 2025, has heightened fears. The footage features a young boy, estimated to be around ten years old, confidently demonstrating his firearms training alongside at least 30 other children in a forest near Ajiri, Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.
“They are training us on weapons handling. Ali Shehu, Umar, Alhaji, and Malam Oro are the ones training us. We are at least 20 to 30 in total. We are all young boys; some are bigger than me, while I am older than some of them,” the boy disclosed in the video.
In a shocking display of skill, the child was handed an AK-47 rifle, which he expertly disassembled and reassembled with precision. He also demonstrated the ability to load and unload a magazine with alarming proficiency, raising serious concerns about the extent of insurgent training targeting young children.
Families Speak Out on Missing Children
Residents in affected communities are grappling with growing fears as more children disappear without a trace. Speaking to Hobnob News, Aisha Ali, a mother from Mafa, recounted the painful disappearance of her six-year-old son, Mustapha, who vanished in February 2022.
“That evening, he was eating when I left to visit a friend around 3 p.m. When I returned, I was told he had stepped out, but he never came back. We searched everywhere. It was like a bad joke that turned into a nightmare. To this day, we have no idea what happened to him, and we fear the worst,” she lamented.
Another resident, Muhammad Mamman from Maiduguri, narrated a similar ordeal, revealing that his four-year-old niece disappeared early last year without a trace.
“We immediately announced her disappearance on the radio, but to this day, we don’t know if she is dead or alive,” he said.
A local radio announcer, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed the disturbing trend, revealing that announcements about missing children are made at least once every two weeks.
“This issue is alarming. We regularly broadcast cases of missing children, and the numbers are increasing,” he stated.
Authorities Respond to Growing Crisis
When contacted, the Borno State Police Command acknowledged the troubling trend, confirming that at least one case of a missing child is reported every week.
“Yes, we receive reports of missing children frequently. In aggregate, we can confirm at least one per week. Fortunately, we have been able to reunite many children with their families, but there are still some unresolved cases,” said police spokesperson Nahum Daso.
Daso, however, downplayed concerns regarding insurgents using child soldiers, dismissing the viral video as possibly outdated. “The use of children as foot soldiers was more common in the past. For over a decade, we have not recorded any cases like that,” he stated.
Security Experts Warn of ISWAP Involvement
Brigadier General Abdullahi Sabi Ishaq (retd.), the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, expressed concern over the video but attributed the tactics to the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), rather than Boko Haram.
“What you saw in that video is not the modus operandi of Boko Haram but rather ISWAP. They typically prey on vulnerable almajiri children, offering them food and care before indoctrinating them into combat training,” he explained.
Responding to questions on what actions the state government would take regarding the revelation that more children remain in training camps, Ishaq emphasized the delicate nature of military operations in such areas.
“The military is working tirelessly, but we must consider collateral damage. If the Air Force bombs these locations, the world will condemn Nigeria for harming children. It is a complex situation,” he said.
Public Calls for Immediate Action
Outraged residents are demanding swift intervention from security agencies. Umar Abdulrahman, a concerned citizen, urged authorities to take decisive steps in locating missing children.
“The locations are not unknown. With the viral video showing a boy confirming that he and other children are in a forest being trained, the government must act. We can’t keep hearing about missing children every week and remain silent,” he said.
As concerns mount, families continue to live in uncertainty, desperately hoping for the safe return of their missing children. The issue highlights the ongoing challenges of insurgency in the region and the need for urgent measures to protect vulnerable children from being drawn into terrorist activities.
