The Nigerian security forces have recently detained a number of minors, according to the United Nations.
According to the UN, Nigerian security services have detained at least 275 kids on suspicion that they are connected to terrorist organizations.
This information was provided in the UN secretary-third general’s report on children and armed conflict in Nigeria, which was published on Wednesday.
The majority of the children, according to the UN, were transferred to Maiduguri’s Giwa military barracks, which serves as Borno State’s main military detention facility. The UN added that the conditions of confinement at the Giwa barracks were extremely worrying.
The report stated in part: “The Nigerian Security Forces continued to apprehend children on suspicion of involvement with Boko Haram-affiliated and splinter groups during security sweeps, military operations and screen procedures outside internally displaced persons camps and on the basis of information provided by informants.
“In many cases, children were arrested with little or no evidence, and some remained detained for periods ranging from one week to eight years.
“The country task force verified the detention by the Nigerian Security Forces of 275 children (260 boys, 15 girls), aged between 10 and 17 years, for actual or alleged association with armed groups. Almost all of the children were released from detention during the reporting period, with only three boys still detained at the time of reporting.
“Of the 272 children released by the Nigerian Security Forces, 230 (215 boys, 15 girls) were released from the Giwa military barracks and from Maiduguri Maximum Security Prison in 2020. The children had mostly been detained after escaping from captivity by armed groups and surrendering to the Security Forces at the nearest town or village from their point of escape. A further 42 boys were released from military detention in 2021, following advocacy by the country task force.
“Some children had initially been held by the Nigerian Security Forces in local prisons or detention facilities for short periods. Eventually, most of the children were transferred to the Giwa military barracks in Maiduguri, the main military detention facility in Borno State.
“According to first-hand testimonies from more than 200 children interviewed by the country task force, the conditions of detention at the Giwa barracks were of great concern. Although the facility has a cell block designated exclusively for minors, children were often held in cells with adult inmates, where food and water were scarcer and conditions even more crowded.”