Underage Marriage: Anambra govt arrest father for accepting bride price for 16-year-old daughter

One Uzochukwu Okoli has been detained by the Anambra State Government for offering his minor daughter’s hand in marriage.

After Okoli’s daughter complained to the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare about the abuse she was receiving from her father and the guy he made her marry, Okoli was taken into custody.

This was revealed in a statement released on Thursday by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the state commissioner for women’s and social welfare’s media assistant, Ify Obinabo.

Ikeanyionwu claimed that the 16-year-old girl, known as Chioma, told the ministry that their father took her back from Edo State, where they were attending school to find a husband, following the death of their mother.

She said that at the age of 14, she was originally made to live with a 70-year-old man, but after some time, she fled back to her father’s home until he eventually handed her out to 34-year-old Chinedu N. as a husband, according to the statement.

Along with her older sister, Chioma revealed that her marriage to the husband in question has been a “living hell” since he hits her and occasionally urinates in her mouth, which caused her to flee with her nine-month-old child.

On the other hand, her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, asserted that his daughter is 18 years old and then stated that she is 20.

“Okoli vowed to deal with the daughters if he was able to escape from prison while he was handcuffed. Additionally, he begged them to hope that he dies in prison since he would only make their lives more difficult.

In response to the events, Obinabo directed that the matter be brought before the court so that the kids might receive justice.

Using the platform, she urged parents to guide their children appropriately and to be aware of them rather than pressuring them into young marriages, which will ruin their life.

After being taken into custody, Okoli and Chinedu N will be charged in court.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Aide to the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, on Thursday.

Ikeanyionwu said the girl, identified as Chioma, who is currently 16 years old, told the ministry that after the death of their mother, their father brought her back from Edo State, where they were going to school to take a husband.

The statement read, “She alleged that she was first forced to live with a 70-year-old man at the age of 14, but after some time, she ran back to her father’s house before he finally gave her out to a 34-year-old Chinedu N. as husband.

“Chioma, who also came with her elder sister, explained that life with the said husband has been a ‘living hell’ because he beats her and sometimes, after beating her, pees in her mouth and that made her run away with her nine-month-old baby.

“Her father, Uzochukwu Okoli, on the other hand, claimed his daughter is 18 years old and, at some point, said 20 years.

“Okoli, when he was handcuffed, threatened to deal with the daughters if he made it out of prison. He also urged them to pray he dies in prison because he will make life more miserable for them.”

Reacting to the development, Obinabo, instructed that the case be charged to court so that the children can get justice.

She used the medium to urge parents to be mindful of their children and direct them properly instead of pushing them to early marriages, which will destroy their lives.

Both Okoli and Chinedu N were arrested and will be arraigned in court.