JNSS 2021, 12(3-4):90-103 | DOI: 10.32725/jnss.2021.010

The scourge of child defilement: government and parental failure in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria

Omoruyi Osunde^*, Joseph Aihie

University of Benin, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Benin City, Nigeria

The scourge of child defilement has remained a topical issue and a subject of concern in recent times. Parents, guardians, sociologist, social workers, government, and the general public, are asking how best to protect and reduce the vulnerability of children to defilement. Child defilement leads to short and/or long term negative consequences for the victims, families, and society. The study's aim was to find out the failures of government and parents in protecting children against child defilement in Oredo local government area of Edo State. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting eight wards and twenty-nine quarters within Oredo local government area. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting six informants and 384 parents who were heads of various households as respondents. The study employed the survey research method. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire made up of both open and closed-ended questions. An in-depth interview guide was also used in gathering information from selected informants. The major findings of the study were that, 214 parents, representing 55.7% of respondents, do not think that the existing legislations against child defilement in Edo State are effective enough in prosecuting perpetrators of child defilement. In other words, the study found that although there are existing legislations against child defilement, its implementation processes and procedures are not effective enough in prosecuting offenders. The findings further revealed that one of the major causes of child defilement is parental neglect, and fear of stigmatization was identified as a major reason for non-disclosure of cases. The study recommends strict enforcement of the existing legislations against child defilement, and for parents to take priority interest in the care and wellbeing of their children. The study further recommends the enactment of mandatory reporting law - in order to compel individuals to report cases of child defilement immediately to law enforcement agencies.

Keywords: Child defilement; Existing legislations; Parents; Stigmatization

Received: August 23, 2021; Accepted: December 27, 2021; Published: September 1, 2021  Show citation