THE MENACE OF CHILD TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE IN NIGERIA (original) (raw)

Child trafficking, that is, illegal human trade and abuses of a child are events and occurrences which are aimed at exploiting and taking advantage of the child. This is facilitated through coercion, deception, abduction and the use of force, for acts, such as forced labour, commercial sex or sexual exploitation; hence, precluding the child from basic human rights. In the 1900s when the awareness started on Child trafficking and abuse, the focus was predicated only upon antichild labour and anti-sex trafficking movements. However, since 2005, child trafficking and abuse have been tied to child slavery and together they have the consequences of causing death and psychological and physical damage to the child. This trafficking and slavery are sponsored by a lack of employment opportunities, corruption in government, political instability, armed conflicts, etc. Significantly, statistics show that the female child in Nigeria is subject to sexual exploitation within and outside Nigeria whereas the male children are subjected to the servitude of masters which in turn denies them the apparent benefit of staying with their parents or in a democratic society where their rights are protected and maintained. This paper considers and engages the extant laws which delimit carrying out acts such as can be rightly termed as "child trafficking and abuse" and the shortcomings of the various governmental and non-governmental agencies responsible.Finally, this paper suggests the establishment and training of the key players in this sector such as Nigerian immigration, police, etc in the practice of combatting trafficking. Also, this paper suggests training of the judiciary on matters bordering on child trafficking in case of witnesses and safety for the child from discrimination. In furtherance, the laws Criminal code and penal code be amended, etc. to obviate the menace associated with child trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.