Nigeria: Boko Haram - Stakeholders Demand Urgent Care for Traumatised Children

What the report says

Stakeholders in Nigeria are urging faster psychosocial care for children affected by the Boko Haram conflict, warning that years of violence and displacement could leave lasting damage on young people in the North-East. The concern was raised on Wednesday in Maiduguri at a one-day national dialogue on the psychological impact of conflicts on children, held under the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Health and supported by the North-East Development Commission.

According to Daily Trust’s report carried by AllAfrica, participants said children who have seen killings, lost parents or lived through displacement need urgent support to reduce the risk of long-term trauma. Dr Salma Ibrahim Anas, senior special assistant to the president on health, used the example of a mother who fled Bama with seven children but reached an internally displaced persons camp with only one child, illustrating the uncertainty and separation many families have faced.

Former education minister Yusuf Tanko Sununu said children exposed to violence may grow up with anger or a desire for revenge if they do not receive care, and he called for dedicated funding and stronger legal protection. Borno State officials said psychosocial support is already part of the state’s humanitarian response, while the minister of humanitarian affairs said Nigeria cannot afford to lose another generation to the emotional effects of war. The discussion reflects a broader concern in conflict settings: untreated childhood trauma can affect development, education and future stability.