The Religio – Cultural Context of Girl-Child Trafficking in Nigeria

Trafficking in persons (TIP) is recorded to be the second greatest money-spinner the world over after arms trafficking. Human Trafficking is one of the thriving illegal businesses in Nigeria today. It entails all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and forced labour. Girl-child trafficking in particular is a common phenomenon in Nigeria. Nigerian girls are being trafficked to Italy, Mali, Libya, Morocco, and other countries in droves, for prostitution. The major factor responsible for this crime in Nigeria is poverty coupled with weak enforcement of the Child Right Act, ignorance, greed, illiteracy, collapse of family values and increase in violence against women. The study attempts to investigate the experiences of some of the victims of Trafficking who have returned to Nigerian and have since been reunited with their families as reported in the various daily newspapers and magazine. It also attempts to look into how the dignity and rights of the girl-child can be established through proper education and re-orientation of both parents and children. There is need to protect the interests of the girl-child and promote their rights through public awareness and proper education.