REALITY:: THE MISERY OF SKOLOMBO

_{Children picking debris Image Source}

THE MISERY OF SKOLOMBO

In African families, some children are seen as weird, stubborn and godly but in this case of skolombo some children are labeled witches, wizard and bad luck to either the family or the community through pronouncement of some pastors or negative omen surrounding their birth, due to circumstances, some parent throw such children to the street where they turn out to be nuisance and havoc in the city of calabar
These skolombo are also seen as abandoned children who were thrown by girls due to unwanted pregnancy and hid it from their family with fear of being kicked out from their parent house.

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This skolombo some are neither witches nor wizard but are of single parent who are not capable of taking responsibility, so the child end up fending for him or herself by indulging in all sort of things.

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These children are always seen loitering around the street around Calabar road, IBB, Ekong ITA and other, these children lived under the bridge and Etim Edem Park where they work daily to survive. some skolombo don’t know who they call mother or father but they provide for themselves by picking pocket in the market like watt market popularly known in Calabar, some earn a living by running errands, carrying of passengers luggage and being paid #200 or #300 at the end..

_{Street kids in Calabar Image Source}

Some mingle themselves with the big boys (thieves) in the street going for robbery while some skolombos children walk in mass to operate like beggars, collecting money, phone and valuable from people; they are mostly seen hanging besides cars in traffic begging alms.

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The skolombos comprises of both teen and minor, the girls are called “lakesera girls” which most of them involves in prostitution to earn a living, the children are found in the street as a space for survival. Over the years, they have indulged into the street lifestyle living like gangster, touting and criminal act. These have been a threat to the occupancy of calabar and its environs. Then, during election period some politicians deployed these skolombo children for campaign in calabar.

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CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the skolombo has affected the society negatively; these children are limited to good education, good food, good clothes, shelter and family. It has increased the number of teenage pregnancies, cultism, criminals, prostitution, abuse, security violence, exploitation and child trafficking also they may end up been victim of drugs, gangster, rituals and infectious disease.

@steemwomensclub