The Menace of Child Maltreatment: A growing threat to Nigeria’s future, by Gift Luckson Child maltreatment remains a serious problem in Nigeria, with many disturbing cases reported in many states daily. Child maltreatment includes abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual), neglect, exploitation, trafficking, and harmful treatment of children. It violates children’s rights to safety, health, and development, and has long-term psychological, physical and social consequences. In Nigeria, while laws exist (e.g., the Child Rights Act, anti-trafficking laws), enforcement is uneven, and cultural, economic, or social factors often complicate prevention and redress. Recent cases Several serious...