Nigeria Police Train Officers to Prevent Recruitment, Use of Children in Armed Conflict
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has conducted a week-long pre-deployment training on preventing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.
The programme, held at the Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, was declared open by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, who was represented by AIG Aminu Baba Raji, AIG Training and Development. The training was aimed at equipping officers with child-sensitive policing skills for internal security operations.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the programme was delivered in partnership with the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, featuring international facilitators and certified Nigeria Police Trainers-of-Trainers.
“Officers were trained to detect and prevent child recruitment and to recognize that children associated with armed groups are primarily victims deserving confidentiality, empathy, and protection,” the statement noted.
In his remarks, IGP Egbetokun said that children remain among the most vulnerable in situations of violence and that their recruitment by armed actors, whether as fighters, spies, or in other roles, is a grave violation of their rights and a threat to national security.
He stressed the need for officers deployed to conflict-affected areas to identify these risks and respond with professionalism, sensitivity, and gender-responsive approaches.
The IGP expressed gratitude to the organisers for their support and assured that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding human rights and enhancing child-protection capacity through continuous training and strong partnerships.
“The training further strengthened existing Nigeria Police child-protection initiatives such as the Safer Schools Programme and POCACOV. A total of 25 officers were certified as ready for deployment to conflict-affected areas,” the statement added.
