 In several African countries, including Nigeria, petty trading is an integral part of the informal sector and remains a source of livelihood. Citizens who have ventured into petty trading must have had no other options but to take it up for survival. Our correspondent Habibat Ajayi takes a look at the role of teenage girls in petty trading and the challenges inherent. Teenage girls have become the most vulnerable as they hawk to provide for their families. It is the little they can contribute to family survival but they have become prey in the hands of sexual predators on the streets. According to reports, incidents of sexual assault have taken an alarming turn. 14 years old Deborah is a junior class 2 student. She is a victim of rape. She had narrated her deal to this chemist while seeking medical help. When Deborah and her friend came, they explained that one of their friends was disfellowed by an evil man and she had been bleeding without stop. She finally confessed that she was the one suffering because the man had given her some medications to abort a pregnancy. When she stood up from the chair, she was already soaked with blood and said she had used five to six sanitary towels before she came to me. Unlike Deborah, Zeynab's own is a self-battue. This 21 years old secondary school graduate says she became sexual active very early and as such, a dream of becoming a lawyer is bleak. That's my one. We wanted Saudi. When I was pregnant, I had to walk from Monday to Saturday as a sales representative and on Sunday, I would hug Pepe from 6.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. before doing my house chores. I chose to keep the pregnancy and I was determined to return to school if help came my way. My dream was that immediately I completed my SS3 examination. I will obtain jam, form and sick admission into a university to study law. But unfortunately, the pregnancy happened, then I had to face the reality. According to the statistics from Oregon State Sexual Assault Referral Center, 42 cases of child sexual abuse and 23 cases of domestic violence are so far recorded this last quarter of the year. Society views women as turtles, as playthings and so do not take issues that affect women, especially gender-based violence. Seriously. Constant stakeholders are advised to team up and ensure the numbers of sexual assaults crush to the barest minimum. Perhaps the starting point would be to ensure the government enforces an end to street-trading about teenage girls. Abibat Ajayi, Plus TV News. Hello, hope you enjoyed the news. Please do subscribe to our YouTube channel and don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.