CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The level of social vices perpetrated in Nigeria has reached an alarming stage. A stage where children are being transferred by fraudulent means of exploitative purpose.

According to article 3 act of the trafficking protocol, child trafficking means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of children by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion of abduction, of the use of fraud, deception, use of power, giving or receiving of payment to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

In a simple form, child trafficking is therefore the exchange or transfer of a child for purely exploitative purpose which is detriment to the physical, physiological and social life of such child. Therefore, any removal of a child as being observed in Nigeria, from his/her family, environment and the subsequent placement of such child into an exploitative content can aptly be describe as man’s in-humanity to man.

It is therefore fully  unacceptable that human beings are traded, bought, sold, place or abducted, thus being deprived of their most fundamental human right.

Against the above background, the federal government of Nigeria established the National Agency for Prohibition of trafficking in person or other related matters agency (NAPTIP) came into existence on the 8th of August 2003, with the appointment of its pioneer chief executive. The Agency was seen as the federal government of Nigeria’s response to addressing the scourge of child trafficking in Nigeria. The establishment of NAPTIP was also a fulfillment of Nigeria’s international obligation under trafficking persons.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Child trafficking has generated much public out cries and condemnation. Sound minds have criticized the ugly trend in its entirety of child trafficking in   Rivers state a case study of Asari-Toru Local Government which speaks volume. In other words, 70% – 80% of the trafficked children are those affected by the aforementioned. The electronic media has been reporting about this canker worm. These problem are even more compounded as it has to do with under aged (children) whose reasoning facilities are too low to appreciate the influence of the trend. This research helps to evaluate the role, impact and effects of the electronic media campaign in the fight against child trafficking with a focus on Asari-Toru Local Government Area. It will look at the extent, the media has succeeded in totally reducing the level of child trafficking in Asari-Toru. This research will also attempt to without prejudice look at the general causes of child trafficking, and the key roles of the electronic media in curbing this menace.

1.4     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study are as follows:

1.       To evaluate the role of electronic media campaign against child trafficking in Asari-Toru.

2.       To know the effort already made by Agencies like NAPTIP in the eradication of child trafficking.

3.       To find out how the electronic media contributes more in the fight against child trafficking.

4.       To stimulate further study on the electronic media campaign against child trafficking.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research question for this study are as follows:

1.       What is the role of the electronic media campaign against child trafficking in Asari-Toru?

2.       What are the roles of Agencies in the eradication of child trafficking?

3.       To what extent has the electronic media contributed to the fight against child trafficking in Asari-Toru?

4.       How can further research help in the campaign against child trafficking?

1.5     RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The researcher has formulated the statements below as guesses to the research questions posed above.

1.       H1:    Electronic media campaign play a role against child trafficking

HO:   Electronic media campaign does not play a role against child trafficking.

2.       HI:     Agencies play roles in eradication of child trafficking.

          HO:   Agencies does not play a role in eradication of child trafficking.

3.       H1:    Electronic media has contributed to the fight against child trafficking.

          HO:   Electronic media has not contributed to the fight against child trafficking.

4.       HI:     Further research will help in the campaign against child trafficking.

          HO:   Further research will not help in the campaign against child trafficking.

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

This study will prove to be of immense benefits to the nation and Rivers state (Asari-Toru Local Government Area) in particular, especially in this period when cases of child trafficking have become rampant and almost a daily occurrence. The study will help the electronic media and the mass media at large to identify its roles as a social institution and its association with such vices. The study will further help in the teaching of mass communication in Nigeria higher institution as it will reveal reasons why media personnel should be interested in reporting cases of child trafficking.

Finally, this study will serve as a stepping stone for future research works and theories for students, scholars and policy makers.

1.7     SCOPE OF THE STUDY`

This study solely concentrates on the evaluation of the electronic media in child trafficking in Rivers state with a focus on Asari-Toru Local Government Area.

Although person’s including adults fall victim of this menace (trafficking), with little or no emphases on trafficking involve persons of older age. Further more, the researcher acknowledge that child trafficking is a phenomenon in the entire nation.

1.8     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Although the research was carefully prepared, there were some unavoidable limitations.

First, because of the time limit, this research was concentrated only on children who are mainly victimized, despite the fact it can affect older aged, the findings cannot be generalized to the targer population.

Second, the electronic media may not contribute fully to the eradication of child trafficking because of some challenges and other things to be taken care of but they have played some roles.

Thirdly, since the questionnaire designed to get peoples response on the said issue (trafficking), might given useful information and as well may not provide enough information needed.  

Finally, if the agencies who are supposed to be supportive are slow in its duties, child trafficking cannot be eradicated fully.

1.9     DEFINITION OF TERMS

Electronic media: Is defined by the researcher to be an electronically mediated instrument used to disseminate information.

Trafficking:          This is the exchange of human being for purely exploitative purpose or the removal of a child from his/her family environment and the subsequent placement of such child into an exploitative context.

Campaign:  These are programmes that are published over the radio/television in order to achieve a social change.