Child's Right Violations During the Nigerian Civil War, 1967-1970

This paper provides a rights-based analysis of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), contending that the military actions by both the Federal Military Government of Nigeria and the secessionist state of Biafra resulted in profound, widespread, and systematic violations of the fundamental rights of the child. The paper used secondary and tertiary sources. Its approach was narrative, historical, and analytical. The paper drew on two theories of conflict to support its arguments, namely grievance-based and greed/opportunity-based theories. The paper contended that the conflict stemmed from deep-seated ethnic and political tensions, resulting in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis where an estimated one to three million people died, with the overwhelming majority being non-combatant children. Focusing on the child's right to life, health, and protection against the backdrop of global humanitarian standards, the paper details four key modalities of rights violation, including denial of subsistence and medical rights, breaches of physical integrity, and the denial of rights to family life stemming from mass displacement, leading to issues of refugee status and family separation. By framing the wartime experiences of children as explicit human rights violations, this study moves beyond mere victimhood to assign accountability and highlight the systemic failure to protect the most vulnerable population. The paper concludes that the wartime experience shaped Nigeria’s post-war social contract and contributed to a global shift in recognising the specific protections required for children in warfare in contemporary times. It makes recommendations that support child rights principles of survival, development, protection, and participation during armed conflict.