Boko Haram kidnaps children to replenish depleted ranks, says presidential aide

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to Nigeria's President on Policy Communication, revealed that Boko Haram forcibly recruits children from villages to replenish its ranks after suffering losses. These abducted children are taken to the bush and trained against their will.

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When Boko Haram starts to lose their members, they go to villages and carry children and take them to the bush and recruit them; these are the people you recruited against their will.

Bwala explained that some of these children manage to escape the insurgents' camps and surrender to the Nigerian government. He assured that these individuals are not harmed and are treated in accordance with international humanitarian principles, referencing the United Nations Convention on armed conflict.

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If something happens in the camp and they escape, they come to Nigerian government, and they said they have repented, the Nigeria government will not shoot them.

Addressing concerns about former insurgents rejoining terrorism, Bwala acknowledged this is a persistent risk. He noted that some attacks have been linked to individuals who previously surrendered and were rehabilitated. This phenomenon of defection and recidivism, he stated, is a reality in armed conflicts globally, even within established state institutions.

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And that is why I said the dynamics of armed conflict is guided by the United Nations Convention.