Child trafficking is a global menace that involves the transfer, harboring and kidnapping of children for forced labour and other explorative purposes. The vulnerabilities of these children are preyed upon, they are then kidnapped and introduced to all manners of exploitative acts, mostly sexual. In fact, statistics indicate that children account for 27% of human trafficking victims globally, with two of every three victims being girls. The United Nations Survey also points to one of every three cases of human trafficking worldwide is a child. Although this issue has been prevalent since time memorial, global bodies and world governments are beginning to address it squarely, in a bid to totally eradicate the menace.
Experts note that low-income countries have the highest proportion of child labour suppliers and West African countries are among the low-income regions where this menace is endemic. The International Labour Organization (ILO) asserted that the African continent alone accounts for the highest prevalence of children aged between 5 and 17 years old. On the involvements in West African countries, UNICEF also noted that some countries in West Africa are estimated to have over 40 percent of the children aged 5-17 engaged in child labour.
Security challenges have exposed children in Plateau to child labour.
The growing pandemic of child trafficking in Nigeria has raised serious concerns, with this problem catalyzing other numerous social issues. Reports indicate that this menace is worsened in the northern parts of the country, where immense insecurity and violent clashes have aggravated the situation. One major factor that has contributed to the increase in child trafficking is the poverty in most rural areas. Traffickers are able to exploit this vulnerability to traffic children for domestic labour or commercial sex services. Surveys have shown girls to be trafficked for sexual exploitation and boys for labour. Plateau is one of the states where this menace is most prevalent. As a result of the sectarian crisis in 2001, the state has been faced with numerous security challenges that have destroyed lives and properties, rendering people poor and exposed widows and children to trafficking and child labour.
Plateau State Emergency Management Board reported that recent research suggests that no fewer than 3000 children have been displaced in three communities in the Maingo District, Bassa Local Government Area due to the violent clashes between cattle herders and farmers. The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking of Persons, also noted this menace as a humongous one in Plateau State, pointing out that all the Local Government Areas in the state are either source points, transit or destination points for trafficking. The agency is said to have recorded 85 cases with 146 victims from March 2021 to date. Stakeholders complained about traffickers disguising as missionaries who have come to help children from the ongoing crisis in the state, only to exploit them.
Gorro urges government to demystify the child rights act.
Adole Alexander, NAPTIP’s state commander in Plateau State said that in 2021, 68 children were rescued from a fake orphanage, Our Lordship Orphanage, in Jos. He noted that the perpetrators were trafficking children from Adamawa, Taraba and local government areas in the state like Riyom and Langtang. Toyin, for instance is one of the communities with largest number of trafficking of minors and of NAPTIP’s sensitization exercises in this community, the residents seem so complacent about curbing this situation. Experts have thus noted that concerted efforts with all stakeholders are paramount to salvaging this menace.
Rev. Samuel Gorro, a peace advocate noted that the child right act must be broken down to the people through orientation, so that they can fully understand the situation. He also said that the government must further support initiatives targeted to help women and children in communities ravaged by conflict. The Child Protection Network in Plateau have also said its members collaborate with organizations to solve the child trafficking issues in the state. Plateau State Government has also promised to continuously combat this menace. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in the state declared that the state government’s provision of counseling services, housing and empowerment programs for child trafficking victims, would all be increased and access to services would be improved.
Civil Society organizations also call for proper documentation of IDPs.
The Civil Society Organization has also urged the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the IDPs were adequately documented. Gad Shakami, the Chairman of CSOs in the state noted that this would ensure the mitigation of the conflict impact, whilst also urged the government to put in more efforts in resolving the conflict and preventing future ones. Mr. Silas Abdulsalam, the founder of Displaced Women and Children Foundation has also called on the state government to enact a special desk at the State Emergency Management Agency, responsible for responding to displacement calls in the state, to help facilitate data collation. He admonished NAPTIP to collaborate with CSOs and other grassroots organizations for effective intervention and apprehension of traffickers.
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Because it is a worldwide problem that includes the movement, sheltering, and abduction of children for the purpose of forced labor and other exploratory endeavors, child trafficking is a morally reprehensible practice.
The defenselessness of young children is targeted by predators, and after being abducted, they are subjected to a variety of forms of exploitation, the majority of which are sexual; this is a tragic reality.
According to a survey conducted by the United Nations, one out of every three victims of human trafficking throughout the globe is a kid, which is a very troubling statistic.
It’s unfortunate that low-income nations have the biggest number of countries that use child labor as a source of supply, and West African countries are among the low-income areas in which this problem is pervasive.
In Nigeria, where child trafficking is a spreading epidemic, severe concerns have been expressed as a result of this problem’s ability to catalyze other, multiple socioeconomic problems.
Most of the time the right child law of Nigeria is not known to their parents or guidance. I support what Gorror said that the child act law should be demistify to their parents which will further clarify things to them. Poverty is the resultant vector that fuel child trafficking apart from the security challenges happening in the north.
Residents seem to be so unconcerned about finding a solution to this problem. Therefore, specialists have observed that collaborative efforts with all relevant parties are very necessary in order to avert this danger.
Child victims of trafficking would have better access to therapy, housing, and empowerment initiatives provided by the state government.
The major factor fueling child trafficking in Plateau state is the security challenges going on in the northern part of the country. Poverty can not be ruled out also in this regard. Government should endeavor to break down the child act law to parents and guidance for better understanding.
This incidence is truly humongous. All this is attributed to the insecurity plaguing the country in general which is more prevalence in the north. Government should be endeavor to do something about this issue and saved the lives of children’s been trafficked.
It is unfortunate we are having problem of child trafficking in Plateau. It is the audacity people have to be trafficking children which is a crime. We really need to deal with them and ensure they are brought to book.
The global scourge of child trafficking encompasses the transfer, harboring, and abduction of children for forced labor and other exploitative objectives.
These youngsters are targeted because of their inherent helplessness, and after being abducted, they are subjected to various forms of exploitation, most of which are sexual in nature.
In Nigeria, where child trafficking is a spreading epidemic, severe concerns have been expressed as a result of this problem’s ability to catalyze other, multiple social problems.
Child trafficking as be a global issue facing several country, the poor and helpless one are vulnerable to traffickers the use this children for several thing forced labour, organ harvesting, prostitution and so on we have to tight our security and improve our economy and also create awareness in other to stop people from been get trafficked
The security challenge being faced in plateau had now made the state more vulnerable to child trafficking and all these kids needs to be protected.
Ensuring that the IDPs were well documented… would ensure the mitigation of the conflict impact also urged the government to put in more efforts in resolving and preventing the conflict.
There is no way human trafficking can be curb in the Nigeria unless the government is ready to the needful by reducing the level of poverty among the citizens.
So many things happening in nigeria this days. Government need to do the needful to reduce poverty. Poverty has cause a lot of this in this country
The growing pandemic of child trafficking in Nigeria has raised serious concerns, with this problem catalyzing other numerous social issues. Experts note that low-income countries have the highest proportion of child labour.
The vulnerabilities of these children are preyed upon, they are then kidnapped and introduced to all manners of exploitative acts, mostly sexual. In fact, statistics indicate that children account for 27% of human trafficking victims globally, with two of every three victims being girls.