A video capturing a man attempting to lure a 13-year-old female hawker has sparked widespread outrage and calls for more stringent child protection measures.
In the footage posted on X on Friday, the teenage girl was seen hawking cocoyams when she was reportedly called over by the man.
However, the interaction soon appeared suspicious, prompting an eyewitness who recorded the incident from a nearby window to film the moment and intervene.
In the clip, the man is seen asking the girl for her name, to which she responded, “Adijat.”
He proceeded to ask if she would be in a relationship with him.
“Will you date me?” he asked.
The witness who recorded the incident came out to question the man over his conduct, asking why he would make such a remark to a minor.
The man responded by claiming that he was joking and only wanted to buy cocoyam from her.
“No, no, no, I was only joking and playing with her,” the man said.
The girl, when later questioned in the video, confirms the exchange, saying the man made the comment to her.
“He asked me if I could date him. I told him he is too old. Then he said he is married and still breastfeeding. Then he said he wants to go and bring money,” she narrated
When asked to confirm if what she said was true, the man denied it, saying, “I asked her, how far? How are you doing? What of your mother?”
The incident escalated, drawing the attention of other passersby who condemned his actions.
Similar incident was reported in March after a man was also caught allegedly attempting to lure a young girl hawking avocados with ₦1,000 for sexual purposes.
The incident has led to increased calls from child rights advocates and the public for law enforcement to investigate the matter and for stronger measures to ensure the safety and welfare of children in similar situations.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement has been released by the relevant authorities regarding the incident.
