A marital union between a teenage girl and man has been annulled by the Enugu State Government following a viral video of the marriage ceremony.
The said wedding, which took place at Enugu Ezike in Igbo-Eze Local Government, involved 15-year-old Precious Oyiga and a 33-year-old man, Sopuluchukwu Odoh.
But the government waded in and dissolved the marriage without delay after its attention was drawn by the viral video in social media.
The Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, said that the government moved swiftly to nullify underage marriage, saying that it was an “illegal, harmful, and unacceptable union.”
However, she noted that the illegal marriage had already been consummated before the intervention of the government.
Narrating the steps taken before the invalidation of the marriage, Enih said that the ministry had earlier invited for questioning, all the parties involved in the marriage saga.
According to her, the interrogation was meant to understand the motive for marrying off the underage girl despite the huge risks involved in such marriages.
She identified the inherent dangers of early marriage to include lifelong psychological trauma, vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF), cervical cancer, and economic disempowerment.
The Gender Affairs Commissioner explained that the concerned persons had failed to honour the invitation, thereby prompting the ministry to take appropriate action by working with security agencies to arrest them.
She listed those arrested to include bride’s parents, groom’s parents, the groom, and the matchmaker, Mrs. Patience Ndidiamaka, a native doctor, popularly known as an Ezenwanyi (queen).
Enih stated that during a protected interview, Precious revealed that she was forced into the marriage and that she had never attended school.
“She confirmed clearly that she did not consent to becoming a wife. The groom’s mother, Mrs. Ngozi Odoh stated that her son is an only child, which motivated her to secure a wife for him,” the commissioner said.
However, the groom’s mother was unable to justify her decision to go ahead with the marriage involving her son and an underaged girl, when told of the legal implications.
On her part, the matchmaker, Mrs. Ndidiamaka, claimed she did not know child marriage constituted a criminal offence.
The legal team of the Gender Affairs Ministry then immediately educated her and others on the provisions of the Enugu State Child Rights Law, which criminalises early marriage and prescribes penalties for offenders.
The Permanent Secretary Mrs. Nkechi Ewoh, further enlightened all parties on child protection, gender-based violence, and the severe health risks associated with early marriage.
Meanwhile, all the arrested persons have been handed over to security agencies for full investigation and prosecution.
Precious, along with a two-year-old baby, whose mother is yet to be identified, has been placed under the protective care of the Ministry’s Child Development Department.
Enih gave assurance that the Enugu State Government would take full responsibility for the rehabilitation and education of Precious, having freed her from illegal marriage.
She stated that Enugu State remained committed to ending all forms of child abuse and harmful traditional practices that infringe on the rights of the girl-child, women and other vulnerable groups.
The commissioner expressed gratitude to the Chairman of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Hon. Ogbonna Ogallah, the member representing the constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Clifford Nnaemeka Obe, and the Chairman of the Enugu State Civil Service Commission, Mr. Robinson Odo, for their rapid response and collaboration with the ministry.
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo
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