Di United Nations Children's Fund tok say two armed groups wey dey operate for Northern Nigeria don gather more dan 1,120 pikin as soldiers and sex slaves for North-East since 2024.

UNICEF Child Protection Manager, Tarek Akkad, yarn dis matter on Wednesday for Maiduguri, Borno State, as dem dey mark 2026 Red Alert Day, wey be International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers.

E tok say di figure get 525 boys and 595 girls wey dem recruit across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Akkad explain say dis kain tin na serious violation of international law, and even though dem don make some progress for recent years, di recruitment and use of pikin for armed conflict still dey happen well-well.

E quote di UN Secretary-General report on children and armed conflict, e yarn say dis violation na one of di abuses wey dey affect pikin most.

E call on government make dem adopt di Optional Protocol to di Convention on the Rights of di Child on di involvement of children for armed conflict, and e urge governments, civil society organisations and international bodies make dem strengthen prevention and accountability measures.

According to am, pikin wey associate with armed groups dem suppose treat dem as victims first and hand dem over to civilian child protection authorities.

E add say di support from government, UNICEF and development partners don help affected pikin make dem recover and rebuild dem life.