TheCable

The Bayelsa government has summoned parents of a four-year-old girl and a 54-year-old man over child marriage allegations in the state.

TheCable understands that the traditional wedding ceremony between the minor and the 54-year-old man was held on December 26 at Akeddei community in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa state.

The government reacted to the development in a statement jointly signed by Dise Ogbise-Goddy, chairman of gender response initiative team (GRIT), and Paniebi Jacob, director of child development in the state ministry of women affairs, children and social development.

According to the statement, a formal complaint on the “illegal marriage” was received from DO Foundation, a child rights advocacy group, in the state.

The statement added that the traditional ruler of the ccommunity has honoured the government’s intervention and vowed to produce the parents and the girl.

“That is why the state government did not hesitate to assent to the  passage of the  Bayelsa state Child Rights Law,” the statement reads.

“We are taking steps to rescue the child from all the key actors in relation to this illegal ceremony that they tagged a ‘mere spiritual’ affair.

“The law is clear on issues of tradition and customs that are repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience  and working with the Bayelsa state police command, we shall ensure incidents like this do not occur in the state again.

“On behalf of the governor of Bayelsa state, we express our gratitude to all the non-governmental organisations, including FIDA and DO Foundation, that have risen to the rescue of this innocent child.

“Bayelsa state is children-friendly and this case will be pursued to a logical conclusion.”

NAN reports that the four-year-old bride claimed the groom simply identified as elder Akpos was her husband who mysteriously died in their previous life, adding that she has been searching for him for a long time.

A recent report by Save the Children International (SCI) said Nigeria is home to 23 million child brides with two in every five women married as kids.