Socio-Economic Determinants and the Manifestations of Abuse among Street Children in Nigeria

Street children in Nigeria face persistent abuse and multidimensional vulnerabilities due to entrenched socio-economic hardships, family breakdowns and weak protective institutions. Yet, these challenges remain inadequately addressed in policy and academic discourse. This study examined the socio-economic conditions, manifestations and multidimensional implications of abuse experienced by street children in Nigeria, with a particular focus on the structural and systemic factors that heighten their vulnerability. Guided by the Child Protection Theory of Change developed by Philip Cook, Michael Wessells, and Michele Cook, the research employed a qualitative method, relying on secondary data sourced from scholarly literature, institutional reports, and empirical case studies across Nigerian urban centres. Thematic content analysis was employed to identify patterns of abuse and their broader effects on the lives of street children. Findings revealed that household poverty, parental unemployment, family disintegration, harmful cultural practices such as witchcraft labelling, and institutional neglect are significant drivers of child vulnerability and street migration. The manifestations of abuse, ranging from physical and sexual violence to emotional trauma, economic exploitation and social exclusion, have severe social, psychological and developmental consequences. These include poor mental health, disrupted education, stunted growth, moral disorientation and chronic marginalisation. The study underscores the critical need for stronger child protection frameworks, inclusive social policies and targeted interventions that address both the root causes and outcomes of street children. By providing a theoretically informed and evidence-based analysis, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on child rights violations and offers practical insights for policymakers, social workers and child advocacy organisations in Nigeria.