Child trafficking has become an alarming problem worldwide and particularly in Nigeria. This study examines perceptions of the causes and effects of child trafficking on victims and society through the perspectives of child welfare professionals and residents in Benin City, Edo State. It investigates the underlying causes of child trafficking in Edo State and identifies its consequences for victims and their families. The study employed Marxian political economy theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, and labeling theory as its theoretical framework, using a sample size of 502. Findings revealed a disturbing rise in the trafficking of under aged girls into prostitution driven by multiple factors. Political factors include weak government institutions and inadequate commitment to poverty alleviation. Socio-cultural factors include parental absence, large family size, and low literacy levels. Environmental factors include inadequate access to basic social amenities and rapid urbanization. The study concludes that urgent attention from government and relevant authorities is needed to improve child welfare in Edo State and Nigeria generally. It recommends sustained public awareness and media engagement by government, non-governmental organizations, community groups, and media institutions through intensive public education campaigns. The study also suggests establishing secret investigative mechanisms to identify traffickers and confiscate illicit wealth obtained from trafficking as a deterrent. Furthermore, punitive laws should extend beyond traffickers to include complicit parents, religious actors, and corrupt officials. Government should collaborate with destination countries to strengthen border control and enforcement. Finally, poverty reduction, infrastructure, accessible social services and transparent governance are essential preventive measures.