In the process of hawking on the streets, minors and matured girls are exposed to rape, early sex and other forms of unsavoury behaviours all in the name of assisting their parents
By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State branch of the National Council for Women Societies, NCWS, has expressed concerns over the escalation of street hawking by the girl-children in Kebbi State.
Describing the trend as worrisome, Kebbi State president of the council, Hajiya Hadiza Muhammed Kola, noted that they have stepped up efforts to contain the menace which she said is a catalyst for child prostitution and child labour.
“In the process of hawking on the streets, minors and matured girls are exposed to rape, early sex and other forms of unsavoury behaviours all in the name of assisting their parents”, she said
Kola dismissed claims by some parents that poverty pushed them to sending their children to the streets to hawk saying willing female parents are being supported by the government to engage in home gardening as a means of livelihood because hundreds of them now in the habit of home gardening fends for themselves and their husbands.
The group disclosed that its top management has concluded arrangements to engage Kebbi State House of Assembly to see the possibility of enacting law banning the girl-child street hawking in the entire state.
“We envisage a law from the assembly that stipulate stringent measures against the menace with extreme consequences for intentional violators”, she concluded.