STREET CHILDREN, SKOLOMBO PHENOMENON AND NATIONAL SECURITY IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA.

Research on the activities of Street children in Nigeria is paltry. However, this study investigates street children, the Skolombo Phenomenon and national security in Calabar, Cross River State in South-South Nigeria. The research is both qualitative and descriptive. Survey research design was adopted using Semi Structured Questionnaire and interviews. The primary data for the study were generated from Street Children and residence of Calabar metropolis while secondary sources like books, library materials, journals and periodicals were utilized. The findings of the study showed that the menace of the Skolombo Phenomenon has serious adverse security implication for Calabar in particular and Nigeria in general. Based on these findings, it is recommended amongst other things that an Agency should be set up to rehabilitate street children and reintegrate some of them with their families and strengthen the social protection system in Nigeria.