THE NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLQGY

Abstract

This paper attempts to unravel the underpinning that account for the upsurge of human trafficking in Edo State, Nigeria. The discourse is hinged on the Mertonian concept of innovation which explains the circumvention of societal mainstream values and employed as a circuit and routes to achieving societies coIlectively subscribed goals. The aims and objectives of the study include: identifying the changes in family structures that predisposes parents to trafficking their child and examining the changes in family values that predispose parents to trafficking; discussing the perception of parents about trafficking their children and finally explaining the reasons for the persistence of human trafficking despite attempts to curb it. Focus group discussion (FGD) md in depth indepth methods were used in collecting data. The study revealed that parents are predisposed to trafficking their children due to poverty unemployment ,greed, ignorance, illiteracy, polygyny, distortion of social values, dysfunctional families among others.