Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, has disclosed that over 60,000 children are among the more than 120,000 Boko Haram members who have surrendered.

In an interview with Arise News on Monday, Musa detailed ongoing efforts to combat insurgency in Nigeria. He noted that not all individuals associated with Boko Haram willingly joined the group, as many were coerced, conscripted, or enslaved.

“Not everyone involved is a terrorist. Some were forced, some enslaved,” Musa explained. “Of the 120,000 who surrendered, over 60,000 were children.”

Musa highlighted that after losing their territorial control, Boko Haram shifted to a grim recruitment strategy. The group focused on impregnating women to produce a new generation of fighters, further exacerbating the crisis.

“In the past, they captured communities and forced men to join, often under threat of execution,” he said. “Now, without territories, they resorted to impregnating women repeatedly to create new fighters. These children, raised in an environment normalising violence, would have been extremely dangerous.”

The CDS expressed relief that many of these children are now in custody, reducing the potential threat they posed. He stated that those found culpable of crimes are being investigated and prepared for trial, while women, children, and the elderly are undergoing rehabilitation and care.

Musa reassured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to ensuring peace through deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and prosecution. “Nigeria is safe and will continue to be safe,” he affirmed.