Abstract

Trafficking in women and children recently emerged as a global issue. This study assessed the pattern of trafficking in women and children and factors influencing it. Quantitative and qualitative study designs were used. Women and children aged 15 - 49 and 10 - 14 years respectively constituted the study population. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select sample. Quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted. Among the interviewed women, 16.8% had experienced trafficking preceding the survey. The most frequent type of trafficking was commercial sex (46.7%) followed by child labour (34.5%). Educated and enlightened people (57.3%) appeared to be the main perpetrators of women and child trafficking followed by intimate/close associate (32.1%). Contributing factors for trafficking in women and children in this study are poverty (58.7%), parental discrimination favoring boys over girls (51.4%), lack of knowledge of human slavery and trafficking (33.6%) and family disintegration (21.5%) increase in school dropouts, lack of governments' monitoring of trade working environment and poor socio-economic conditions appeared to be significantly associated with trafficking in women and children (p < 0.05). This study therefore suggests that human trafficking could be tackled by, enacting a comprehensive law that specifies severe punishment for traffickers, rehabilitate victim and increasing security at border posts.

Key words: Trafficking, women, children, problem, Nigeria.