The alarming rise in missing children cases in Borno State has triggered widespread concern, particularly following the emergence of a disturbing video featuring a young boy confessing to undergoing military training alongside dozens of other children in a remote forest.

Residents who spoke with The PUNCH on Sunday shared heartbreaking accounts of missing loved ones, fearing that the surge in child disappearances may be linked to Boko Haram’s recruitment tactics. The development coincides with renewed calls from the #BringBackOurGirls movement, urging the Nigerian government to release findings from the fact-finding committee on the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. With 78 girls still unaccounted for over a decade later, the movement demands transparency in ongoing rescue efforts.

Viral Video Sparks Fear

A viral video, posted by Zagazola Makama on X and reportedly recorded on January 22, 2025, shows a boy, approximately 10 years old, demonstrating his proficiency in handling firearms. He confessed that he and about 30 other unidentified children were undergoing military training in a forest near Ajiri, Mafa Local Government Area, 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. We are all young boys; some are bigger than me, while I am older than some of them,” the boy stated.

In the video, the child expertly stripped and reassembled an AK-47 rifle and demonstrated how to reload a magazine, highlighting his alarming level of proficiency.

Growing Number of Missing Children

Residents have expressed deep concern over the increasing disappearance of children in the state. Aisha Ali, a mother from Mafa, recounted the loss of her six-year-old son, Mustapha, who vanished in February 2022.

“Around February 2022, my last born, Mustapha, went missing. At the time, he was just six years old. It was during the late evening. All of a sudden, his whereabouts could not be traced. The last thing I remember was seeing him eating while I was going to a friend’s place around 3 p.m.,” she shared.

Similarly, Muhammad Mamman from Maiduguri described how his brother’s four-year-old daughter went missing early last year.

“She just disappeared. We immediately announced on the radio, yet she was nowhere to be found to date. Either dead or alive, we can’t explain,” he lamented.

Alarming Trends Confirmed by Authorities

A radio station announcer in Borno State, who requested anonymity, confirmed that at least one missing child case is reported every two weeks.

“We frequently announce cases of missing children. On average, we handle one case every two weeks. This is alarming,” he said.

The Borno State Police Command also confirmed the distressing trend. Speaking with The PUNCH, the command’s spokesperson, Nahum Daso, disclosed that at least one child goes missing weekly in the state.

“Yes, there have always been cases of missing children. On average, we record at least one case per week. Many such cases have been resolved, while a few remain ongoing,” he stated.

Authorities Dismiss Claims of Recent Child Soldier Recruitment

Reacting to the viral video, Daso downplayed its significance, stating that the use of child soldiers was a past occurrence.

“You know, some of these clips are mostly old ones. From us, we don’t have any current threats regarding children being used as child soldiers. That was in the past. For over a decade, we have not recorded any cases like that,” he said.

Brigadier General Abdullahi Sabi Ishaq (retd.), Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, claimed that the act was linked to the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) rather than Boko Haram.

“What you saw in that video is not part of Boko Haram’s known activities. That is the trademark of ISWAP. They take small almajiri children who are suffering and malnourished, get them to the bush, feed them, and take care of them before training and turning them into combatants,” he explained.

Government Response and Security Challenges

Asked about the measures being taken to rescue children allegedly undergoing training, Ishaq emphasized that the ongoing war against insurgents posed significant challenges.

“You know, the war is still ongoing, and the state is using a non-kinetic model while the army is carrying out operations. However, one major challenge is the risk of collateral damage. If the Air Force bombs these locations, considering the presence of children, the whole country will protest,” he added.

He also highlighted the need for advanced technology to combat insurgency effectively.

“War is no longer fought as it was in the olden days. There is a need for technology that will prevent soldiers from moving about in the bushes with legs and vehicles to minimize casualties,” he said.

#BringBackOurGirls Movement Calls for Accountability

The #BringBackOurGirls movement issued a statement on Sunday, signed by its spokesperson, Jeff Okoroafor, condemning successive governments for withholding the report on the Chibok girls’ abduction.

“The #BringBackOurGirls movement reminds President Bola Tinubu’s administration of its constitutional duty to protect all citizens. The administration must provide an update on the rescue efforts for the remaining Chibok girls and release the Sabo fact-finding committee report,” the statement read.

The movement recalled that on April 14, 2014, 276 schoolgirls were abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok. While 141 girls have regained freedom, 78 remain missing, raising concerns that some may have been assimilated into terrorist groups.

Okoroafor urged citizens to join the movement in demanding full disclosure of investigations into the 2014 Chibok girls’ abduction.