ISIS develops app to recruit children – Fed govt warns

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has developed and launched a new mobile application aimed at recruiting and indoctrinating children for the purpose of furthering its Jihad course.

A statement issued by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Abuja on Thursday said the mobile application, tagged 'Huroof' (Arabic alphabets or letters), is to be used by ISIS to teach children the Arabic alphabets with the aid of guns, military tanks and cannons.

Mohammed said, 'The application utilises colourful illustrations that attract and engage the attention of young children.'

The minister urged members of the public in general and parents in particular to be vigilant and to prevent their children and wards from being indoctrinated

The Federal Government had in 2014 issued a security alert that the ISIS had employed the services of a South African to recruit fighters for it from West Africa.

Shortly after the warning, a son of a prominent former Chief Justice of Nigeria was reported to have travelled to Syria in company with his two wives to fight for ISIS. The man was reportedly killed in Syria recently.

Islamist terror group operating in West Africa and especially in Nigeria, the Boko Haram, had also pledged allegiance to ISIS which also welcomed it to its fold.