May 27: Despite advocacy, Nigerian children remain vulnerable

… 9,939 child rights’ violation cases reported in 3 months   By Rosemary Etim Bassey, Kafilat Taiwo, Al-Mustapha A. Mustapha (Abuja) & Sani Ibrahim Paki (Kano)   As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2026 Children’s Day, concerns are mounting over the growing threats facing children across the country, with many […]

• … 9,939 child rights’ violation cases reported in 3 months

 

By Rosemary Etim Bassey, Kafilat Taiwo, Al-Mustapha A. Mustapha (Abuja) & Sani Ibrahim Paki (Kano)

 

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2026 Children’s Day, concerns are mounting over the growing threats facing children across the country, with many still trapped in cycles of violence, insecurity, abuse and exclusion despite years of advocacy and policy interventions.

The anxiety has been heightened by recent reports of attacks targeting children, including the abduction of pupils and residents during an attack on a community in Oyo State, where even a two-year-old toddler was reportedly among those taken by kidnappers. Across several parts of the country, many children remain in captivity or continue to live under the shadow of insecurity, forcing parents to question how safe schools, homes and communities truly are for their children.

From overcrowded classrooms and inaccessible school facilities to displacement caused by insecurity, hunger, child labour and abuse, the realities confronting many Nigerian children continue to raise questions about whether official commitments to child protection are translating into meaningful change.

New data released by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) paints a troubling picture of persistent child rights violations across the country between January and March 2026, even as children, parents, teachers and advocates call on government authorities to move beyond ceremonial speeches and take practical action.

For 10-year-old Amina Yusuf, who lives with a physical disability in Fagge, Kano State, the struggle for inclusion is something she experiences daily.

In a small compound where she lives with her family, Amina wheels herself carefully to join her siblings at play. At school, she faces even greater difficulties because many public facilities remain inaccessible to children with disabilities.

“I enjoy learning science the most,” she said with a smile. “But sometimes I feel left out when other children run and play. If the government can make schools easier for children like me, I will be happy. I want to be a doctor to help people.”

Her mother, Zainab Yusuf, said the family constantly battles with challenges many people rarely notice.

“We carry her because she cannot go to some places on her own, even with the wheelchair. Teachers try, but facilities are poor. We just want her to have an equal chance like other children,” she said.

She added that reports of school kidnappings in different parts of the country had heightened parents’ fears.

“When I hear of children kidnapped in other states, I worry more. We pray for safety and justice,” she said.

For many Nigerian children like Amina, exclusion does not always appear dramatic. Sometimes, it exists quietly in broken infrastructure, inaccessible classrooms, overcrowded schools, rising school fees, insecurity, hunger and emotional neglect.

In an informal settlement near Kurnar Asabe in Kano, 12-year-old Bello Ibrahim, displaced by insecurity in Katsina State, now spends most of his time helping his mother sell firewood instead of attending school.

“I miss school. I like reading, but here there is no school close by,” he said. “Sometimes I feel different because other children go to class while I work. If I could change one thing, it would be to have a school near us.”

His father, Ibrahim Musa, said the family fled violence with nothing.

“Bello wants to learn, but survival comes first. The government should remember children in IDP communities. They deserve education and protection,” he said.

Their experiences mirror the broader concerns captured in the NHRC report, which documented widespread child rights violations across the country during the first quarter of the year.

 

NHRC data reveals scale of child rights’ violations

According to the report, child abandonment emerged as the most common form of abuse, with 1,647 reported cases between January and March 2026.

Child custody disputes followed with 1,303 cases, reflecting growing family conflicts affecting children’s welfare, while child labour accounted for 1,111 cases.

The report also recorded 1,074 cases of child marriage, highlighting the persistence of harmful traditional practices and economic pressures that continue to affect children, especially girls.

Other reported violations included 1,107 other forms of abuse, 1,041 cases involving denial of access to children, 933 violations related to children’s right to survival and development, and 843 incidents of sexual abuse.

The commission also documented 497 cases of child trafficking and 383 violations linked to denial of education.

Across the country, children and parents say these statistics represent real-life experiences that continue to shape childhood in painful ways.

According to the NHRC data, the Federal Capital Territory recorded the highest number of child rights violations in the country during the review period, with 1,351 reported cases.

Benue State followed with 1,180 cases, while Borno recorded 954 incidents. Kaduna State accounted for 796 cases, Niger State recorded 640, Plateau had 587, Imo 519, Sokoto 451, Bauchi 407 and Kogi 308.

Altogether, the commission documented 7,193 child rights violation cases across the 10 most affected states, including the FCT.

Experts say many of the violations are driven by poverty, insecurity, displacement, weak law enforcement and limited access to education.

In several conflict-affected and rural communities, children are forced into street hawking, domestic labour, farming and other hazardous activities to support family income.

Young girls, particularly in impoverished communities, also remain vulnerable to early marriage due to economic hardship, insecurity and entrenched cultural practices.

Global statistics on child marriage in Africa indicate that about 125 million under-18 children across the continent are involved in early marriages, while 44.3 million girls reportedly got married before the age of 15.

 

Children speak on insecurity, hunger and exclusion

For 12-year-old Abdul’Azim Abubakar, inclusion simply means every child should have the opportunity to belong and learn regardless of social background.

“To me, it means that every child gets to learn, play and belong in the same classroom no matter what,” he said.

He recalled seeing classmates repeatedly sent home because of unpaid school fees.

“It is not nice. They miss a lot from the period they were absent,” he said.

Speaking about insecurity, Abdul’Azim said many children now follow national events closely and worry about their safety.

“Even now, children know Nigeria is not secure. We read the news too and worry when we see our age mates have been taken,” he said.

Another pupil, Haneef Aminu, said insecurity and inflation remain major concerns for children and families.

“I will tell leaders to reduce the price of things and also provide security,” he said.

For Sadiq, a primary five pupil living with disability, school remains one of the few places where he feels accepted.

“My teachers make me happy,” he said quietly.

When asked what he would like changed in his school, he smiled and replied: “I want an air conditioner. The class is always hot, and I don’t like the heat.”

His mother, Fatima Aliyu Amdagas, said caring for a child with disability requires enormous emotional and financial sacrifices.

“It means constantly dedicating extra energy, patience and time to ensure his needs are met,” she said.

She urged schools and communities to treat children with developmental differences with dignity and respect.

“He should be truly seen, included and treated with the same respect and dignity as every other child,” she added.

In Gwale, Kano State, nine-year-old Fatima Abdullahi attends a crowded public primary school where one teacher often handles more than 100 pupils in a class.

“I like drawing and English, but our class is too full,” she said. “Sometimes one teacher teaches more than 100 children in a classroom. It is hard to hear and understand. I wish we had more teachers and books.”

Her father, Abdullahi Musa, who works as a tailor, said rising costs have made education increasingly difficult for low-income families.

“Fatima is bright, but the system is failing her. We want the government to invest more in schools. Children are the future,” he said.

 

Experts fault weak enforcement of child protection laws

The Child Rights Act (2003) remains Nigeria’s principal legal framework for child protection. The law incorporates international standards such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and guarantees rights relating to education, health and protection from abuse.

The law also prohibits child marriage, exploitation and child labour. However, implementation challenges remain widespread, especially in states where domestication and enforcement have been inconsistent.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that children experience violence in multiple forms, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse occurring in homes, schools, communities and online spaces.

According to the organisation, the consequences are often lifelong, affecting children’s emotional wellbeing, mental health, education and future opportunities.

Mrs Joyce Ahmadu, a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion advocate, said child violence in Nigeria persists because many perpetrators are rarely punished despite existing laws.

“The solution has gone beyond advocacy alone,” she said. “The problem is about people’s upbringing, which reflects in the way they see and treat others, especially children.”

She said the increasing cases of abuse show that legal protections are not being effectively enforced.

“There are laws, and the Child Rights Law is there to protect children, but it seems the law is not rigid,” she said.

“Many developed countries take these cases seriously because the laws are implemented and offenders are punished. For our country, the laws are on paper.

“We have had reported cases where perpetrators were caught, but they got away with it.”

Mrs Ahmadu stressed that without accountability, awareness campaigns alone would not significantly reduce abuse.

The United Nations has recommended several measures to address child violence, including stricter enforcement of criminal laws prohibiting abuse and child marriage, stronger partnerships with religious and traditional leaders to tackle harmful social norms, and improved support systems for parents and caregivers.

The organisation also called for safer environments around schools and public spaces and increased investment in child protection systems.

For many children and parents, however, daily survival has overshadowed policy debates.

Fourteen-year-old Musa Ibrahim said financial hardship has repeatedly disrupted his education.

“There are days I miss school because my parents cannot always afford transport or some materials we need,” he said.

“It makes me feel bad when other students have things I don’t have. I try not to let it stop me because I really want to finish school and support my family one day.”

His father said the economic realities facing many Nigerian families are worsening children’s vulnerability.

“Things are very difficult for many families now,” he said. “Some parents want their children to go to school, but feeding alone is already a struggle.

“I just want a future where children can focus on learning without parents worrying too much about survival every day.”

Another mother, Fatima Hayatu, said many children now attend school hungry because families can barely cope with the rising cost of living.

“If my child gets the opportunity to speak to the president, he will say they go to school hungry because parents are suffering,” she said.

She also expressed concern over the welfare of teachers.

“Most teachers are just managing because salaries are poor,” she added.

 

Parents, teachers seek practical solutions beyond advocacy

For Salma Abubakar, who was displaced by insecurity, education now reminds her daughter of a life interrupted by violence.

“She misses the laughter the most,” Salma said, recalling how her daughter constantly talked about her former classmates and teachers.

The displaced mother said there were moments she had to choose between paying school fees and feeding her child.

“I chose food. A child’s hunger is immediate,” she said.

She added that fear follows every movement her daughter makes outside their temporary shelter.

“When she leaves the house, even to fetch water, my mind races,” she said.

Other parents also described how insecurity and economic hardship continue to affect children’s education.

Raliya Aminu said transportation and insecurity remain major concerns for her family because her children’s school is far from home.

She said her children were once prevented from writing examinations because school fees had not been fully paid.

“With insecurity and kidnappings in the news, it worries me a lot. We just pray,” she said.

According to her, textbooks and school materials now cost between N40,000 and N50,000 per child.

Mrs Esther Samuel, whose child is autistic, said societal attitudes remain one of the biggest challenges confronting children with special needs.

“The biggest challenge is not even the child’s condition sometimes, but how society reacts to them,” she said.

“Some schools are not properly prepared, and some people still discriminate against these children. Every child deserves equal opportunity to learn and feel accepted.”

An educationist and proprietor of Winners Joy International Academy, Mrs Rosemary Onyenagubo, said children most at risk of exclusion in Nigeria include those from low-income households, rural communities, internally displaced families and children living with disabilities.

She added that many girls still face barriers linked to early marriage, domestic responsibilities and cultural expectations.

“In some cases, children who struggle academically or behaviourally are misunderstood rather than supported,” she said.

 

‘Children need more than ceremonial speeches’

According to Mrs Onyenagubo, schools across the country are struggling with overcrowded classrooms, inadequate learning materials, poor infrastructure and limited access to technology.

“Many learners also struggle with distractions from social media, peer pressure, insecurity and unstable home environments,” she said.

“Some children battle hunger, lack of sleep or emotional stress before even arriving at school. These conditions affect concentration, confidence and academic performance.”

She noted that many schools are not adequately equipped to support children from different backgrounds and emotional needs.

“One major reason is the shortage of trained specialists such as counsellors, special education teachers and psychologists,” she said.

“Some schools lack inclusive facilities for children with disabilities, while others struggle with limited funding and large teacher-to-student ratios.”

She also noted that awareness about inclusive education and mental health support remains limited in many schools.

Speaking further on emotional wellbeing, Mrs Onyenagubo said many children silently battle anxiety, grief, trauma and neglect without receiving adequate support.

“Many simply need understanding, encouragement and a safe environment where they feel valued and heard,” she said.

She stressed that inclusion should go beyond allowing children into classrooms.

“True inclusion means every child, regardless of gender, disability, religion, tribe, economic background, learning style or emotional condition, feels safe, accepted and valued in school,” she said.

“It means classrooms where no child is mocked, ignored or denied opportunities because they are different.”

For another parent, Bilkisu Aminu, compassion and patience are among the most important things children need from society.

“I really wish people understood that my child’s different way of seeing the world is not a flaw,” she said.

She recalled an incident in a supermarket where a stranger criticised her son during a public meltdown before an elderly man intervened.

“He’s just a little boy having a tough moment,” the man had said.

Bilkisu said the kindness stayed with her long after the encounter.

She appealed for more inclusive learning approaches, stressing that every child learns differently.

“A method of learning that works for child A might not work for child B,” she said.

As Nigeria marks another Children’s Day with speeches, celebrations and promises, many children and parents say what they seek most are not symbolic declarations but practical changes that guarantee safety, dignity, inclusion and opportunity.

For children like Amina, Bello, Fatima and thousands of others navigating poverty, displacement, insecurity and exclusion, the hope is simple: a country where childhood is protected, education is accessible and every child can dream without fear.