Teenage Street Hawking and Vulnerability to Sexual Abuse in Nigeria: The Plight of Girl Hawkers

Street hawking, a practice deeply rooted in traditional African societies, has undergone a major transformation over time. It now predominantly involves teenagers, exposing them to a variety of hazards that can have profound and lasting impacts on their lives. The risks are particularly heightened for female teenage hawkers compared to their male counterparts. This study delves into the vulnerability of girl hawkers to sexual abuse. The study is underpinned by a combination of two theoretical frameworks: social disorganization and routine activities theory. A qualitative design was adopted to gain a deeper understanding of the issue. The study was conducted in four major hawking areas in Lagos State, with a total of 25 participants selected through purposive and convenient sampling methods. The participants comprised 20 adults and five police officers, providing a diverse range of perspectives into understanding the plight of girl hawkers with respect to sexual abuse. Through content analysis, it was revealed that girl hawkers are not only sexually abused, but also kidnapped, killed, and used for ritual purposes. Despite the severity of these situations, they are seldom reported to the authorities. Considering the findings, the study proposes the following policy-based recommendations: the banning of hawking by teenagers, the enforcement of strict penalties for non-compliance, implementing stringent supervision measures for teenagers, providing child support, promoting closer parent-child relationships, encouraging the report of sexual abuse cases, and the imposition of deterrent punishments on sexual offenders to prevent future occurrences.