A marriage between Amarachi, an adolescent girl, and an adult man has been declared void by the Enugu State Government.
The public was outraged when images and videos from the wedding ceremony that took place in the Amufie community in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, recently appeared on social media.
In a statement released on Thursday, November 27, Ngozi Eni, the Commissioner for Gender, Women, and Children Affairs, confirmed the development and stated that the state moved quickly to put an end to the “illegal and harmful union,” which officials confirmed had already been consummated.
revealed that despite the serious psychological, health, and legal ramifications of early marriage, including the danger of cervical cancer and other difficulties, the ministry had requested the families to be questioned in order to determine why a child was given out in marriage.
However, when the parties failed to honour the invitation, the ministry facilitated their arrest.
According to a statement, those taken into custody include Amarachi’s parents, the groom’s parents, the groom, and the matchmaker identified as Mrs. Patience, a native doctor who claimed ignorance of the criminality of child marriage.
The ministry claimed that during a private interaction with its officials, Amarachi revealed she had been forced into the marriage and had never attended school.
“The groom’s mother admitted she wanted a wife for her only son but offered no justification for selecting an underage girl,” the statement read.
The matchmaker, named Patience, a native doctor, claimed she was unaware that underage marriage was a crime
All parties were briefed by the ministry’s legal team on the Child Rights Law and the consequences of child marriage, and authorities informed them about gender-based violence and the health dangers of early marriage, including as cervical cancer and vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).
The suspects have been turned over to security services for additional investigation, according to the statement.
“Amarachi and a two-year-old child—whose mother has yet to be identified—are now in the care of the ministry’s Head of Child Unit,” said the statement.
The government’s dedication to guaranteeing Amarachi obtains appropriate education and rehabilitation was reiterated by Commissioner Eni.
