Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has revealed that the military and federal government, in collaboration with international partners, have successfully intervened to prevent 60,000 children born to Boko Haram terrorists from being recruited into extremism.
Speaking in Abuja while hosting a delegation from the Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso), Gen. Musa emphasized the urgent need for collective action against terrorism in the region.
Averting a Dangerous Future
According to the CDS, since 2023, over 120,000 terrorists and their families have surrendered. Alarmingly, half of them—60,000 children—were at risk of growing into future threats if left in violent environments.
“These children were born into violence, and if nothing was done, they would have continued the cycle of terror,” he explained.
To address this, Nigeria launched Safe Camps for surrendered terrorists and their families, ensuring the children received proper care and education away from extremist ideologies.
A Regional Approach to Fighting Terrorism
Gen. Musa also urged Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to collaborate with Nigeria in tackling terrorism, particularly by tightening border security to prevent the movement of militants.
“When there is a lack of good governance, fairness, and justice, terrorism thrives. We must also tackle poverty and illiteracy while ensuring correctional centers rehabilitate, not harden, criminals,” he stressed.
He further identified illegal mining and kidnapping as major sources of terrorist funding, calling for stronger regional cooperation to dismantle these financial networks.
Winning the War, But Not the Peace
Meanwhile, at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Abuja, Major General Adamu Laka reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening regional partnerships in the fight against insurgency.
“We have weakened Boko Haram militarily, but we haven’t won the peace yet. Long-term stability requires non-military strategies and regional collaboration,” said Aliyu Gebi, Coordinator of the Fusion Center for Dialogue and Peace Processes.
As Nigeria intensifies its counterterrorism efforts, experts stress that collective action with Sahel nations is critical in ensuring lasting peace in West Africa.
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