The United States has placed Nigeria on its child soldiers blacklist, warning that the country could face restrictions on military training, financing and weapons sales from October 1, unless President Donald Trump grants a waiver.
The designation follows allegations that Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province continue to recruit, abduct and exploit children in Nigeria, according to the US Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report.
Published on October 11, the report covers the period between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, and identifies Nigeria among 14 countries listed under the US Child Soldiers Prevention Act.
Other countries on the list include Russia, Iran, Somalia and South Sudan.
The restrictions could affect International Military Education and Training, Foreign Military Financing, Excess Defence Articles, certain peacekeeping assistance and licences for direct commercial sales of military equipment to Nigeria.
The report stated that the restrictions would take effect from October 1, 2026, subject to presidential waivers and applicable exceptions.
It also said Nigeria had failed to meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking for the 15th consecutive year.
The report attributed the continued use of child soldiers in Nigeria and neighbouring countries to Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa, which allegedly recruit children as young as 12 for various activities.
These include serving as cooks, domestic workers, spies, porters, messengers, guards at checkpoints, armed combatants and suicide bombers.
The groups were also accused of abducting women and girls in northern Nigeria and subjecting them to forced labour, sexual slavery and forced marriages.
The report stated that some girls who refuse forced marriages are compelled to carry out suicide attacks.
The US assessment further raised concerns about the Nigerian government’s handling of trafficking cases, particularly allegations of official complicity and the lack of accountability for public officials implicated in such crimes.
It said the government did not report any investigations, prosecutions or convictions of government employees allegedly involved in trafficking during the reporting period.
The report added that corruption and official complicity remained significant concerns, with some law enforcement, military and other government officials allegedly committing trafficking offences, accepting bribes or interfering with investigations.
Trafficking cases and victim support
The report recorded 1,341 trafficking investigations involving 1,367 suspects during the reporting period.
The cases comprised 589 sex trafficking investigations, 301 forced labour investigations and 451 cases that were not classified by type.
Of the suspects, 94 were prosecuted, while 97 traffickers were convicted.
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Although the US acknowledged that most convicted traffickers received prison sentences of at least one year, it criticised the government’s handling of alleged official involvement in trafficking.
It also reported that Nigerian authorities identified 2,004 trafficking victims, including 893 victims of sex trafficking and 1,111 victims of forced labour.
However, only 675 victims received government-supported assistance, compared with 2,058 in the previous reporting period.
The report also criticised conditions in shelters operated by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, noting that restrictions on residents’ freedom of movement affected children’s access to education.
It further raised concerns that access to some protection services depended on victims’ willingness to cooperate with law enforcement proceedings.
Adult victims who declined shelter accommodation were not provided with alternative services, while only one dedicated non-governmental organisation shelter was available for adult male trafficking survivors.
US acknowledges Nigeria’s efforts
Despite the concerns, the report acknowledged some improvements in Nigeria’s anti-trafficking response, including increased government spending on victim services and prevention.
Funding for victim services rose from N128m to N233m, while prevention spending increased from N58.8m to N245m.
The government also coordinated the repatriation of 428 Nigerians exploited abroad, secured restitution for 14 victims through criminal sentences and maintained anti-trafficking task forces in 23 states.
The report further acknowledged increased cooperation with foreign governments on trafficking investigations, including operations across West Africa and Southeast Asia in partnership with INTERPOL.
Nigeria remains a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking. The report noted that the country last attained Tier 1 status in 2011, with its ranking fluctuating between Tier 1, Tier 2 and the Tier 2 Watch List over the years.
The assessment also raised concerns about fraudulent recruitment of Nigerians to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, alleged exploitation of foreign nationals in online scam operations in Nigeria and possible forced labour involving North Korean nationals.
It also highlighted baby factories, where women are reportedly held against their will, sexually exploited and forced to give birth to children who are subsequently sold.
The US listing comes amid continued security cooperation between Washington and Abuja, including joint counterterrorism efforts and a bilateral 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap.
When contacted for comments, NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, said the agency would make its response to the report public.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking the Presidency’s reaction.
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