CAUSES, TRENDS AND IMPACTS OF ARMED CONFLICT ON SOCIAL WELFARE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN IN NIGERIA: A LEGAL APPRAISAL

Abstract

The 21st century has experienced aggravated armed conflicts in almost every part of the world, from Nigeria to South Africa, Iraq to Yugoslavia, Afghanistan to Syria, and to Yemen. Nigeria has stark divisions along the lines of deep-rooted ethnic, regional and religious bias, which cause agitations, unhealthy competition, rivalry and even war.  Since its independence, Nigeria has been torn in different directions by repeated crisis of regional agitation, religious superiority, political violence and diverse economic interest, which stall economic transformation and national cohesion. Armed conflict has threatened Nigeria’s peace, stability and unity, increased the number of civilian victims of armed conflicts, refugees, internally displaced persons (IDP’s) and people in need of rapid humanitarian attention has increased.  At the receiving end of all chaos, insurrection, unrest and armed violence are vulnerable children who face devastating consequences of armed conflict. Nigeria’s socio-political landscape has been infested by armed conflict and for the country to end this trend, it is important to explore the history of armed conflicts in Nigeria, access the trend, identify its causes, analyse the effects of armed conflict on social welfare rights of children in Nigeria, vis a vis an appraisal of the legal regime targeted towards ending the menace of armed conflict.