Minister drags Niger Speaker before IGP over plot to marry off 100 girls who lost parents to banditry

Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, has taken decisive action, petitioning the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and seeking a court injunction to prevent the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, from carrying out his plan to marry off 100 orphaned girls.

Outrage erupted as the Speaker announced plans to marry off orphaned girls who had lost their parents in banditry raids in the Mariga local government district.

On May 24, he proposed mass marriage as part of his constituency project, with the goal of alleviating underprivileged people’s suffering.

Kennedy-Ohanenye condemned the plans as “unacceptable,” citing the Child’s Rights Act and stressing the need to protect the girls’ futures. She initiated a full-scale investigation into the matter and has taken legal action to intervene.

In a statement to newsmen in Abuja, she emphasized the importance of considering the girls’ well-being and ensuring their consent, ages, and the legitimacy of the marriages. She highlighted the ministry’s commitment to girl-child education and empowerment, criticizing the Speaker’s oversight in providing alternative support for the girls, such as education or skills training.

Kennedy-Ohanenye outlined the ministry’s plan to educate and empower the girls, offering them opportunities for schooling or skill development. She warned of potential legal consequences if the Speaker proceeds against their efforts to safeguard the girls’ rights.

Under the Child Rights Act, she affirmed the state’s responsibility to protect every child from harm or infringement on their rights, underscoring the ministry’s dedication to upholding these rights and ensuring the well-being of vulnerable children.

(NAN)