Skolombo: Street Children Menace and the Future of Public Safety in Calabar, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Street children known in Cross River state as “skolombo”, a name that carries with it different derogatory and dangerous meanings have witnessed sustained growth and proliferation for over three decades with attendant threats to personal and public safety. The growth of street children in the city however in recent times is reportedly due to the fact that children continue to be tossed into the streets on a daily basis for reasons such as witchcraft stigmatisation, child dumping, trafficking from neighbouring states and dis-inheritance by families. The futuristic implications of the growing trend of antisocial boys and girls in the Cross River region is the focus of this study. Specifically, this study investigates how the activities of skolombo poses a threat to public safety in the state and practical policy actions that could forestall these futuristic possibilities if tackled early on. Engaging mainly secondary sources and desktop review, this paper provides insight into the activities and implications of the activities of these street children in Calabar. Thematic approach was used to relate the findings of the study. Findings showed the various dimensions and implications of street children on Calabar, the capital city of Cross River state both in present and future times especially relating to public safety and security. Hence, this paper recommends a decisive implementation of the various policies and legislations as well as the strengthening of collaborative efforts to rid the city of street children that pose threat to the security of the state through non-coercive approaches.