Minister petitions IG over plan to marry off 100 orphans in Niger
The Niger State House of Assembly Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, is being prevented from marrying off 100 orphaned girls by a court order, according to a petition filed by Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
As part of his constituency initiative, the Speaker recently revealed plans to marry off the orphaned girls who lost their parents in banditry attacks in the Mariga local government region on May 24.
Promising to cover the bridegrooms' dowries and purchase supplies for the mass marriage, he declared that the gesture was "aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished."
Kennedy-Ohanenye called the proposals "unacceptable" and emphasised that a thorough investigation has been launched into the matter when briefing reporters in Abuja.
“I want to let the honourable speaker of the house in Niger states know that this is unacceptable by the Federal Minister Of Women Affairs and by the government unacceptable.
“Because there is something called the Child’s Rights Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.
“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.
“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of the police.
”And I have filed for an injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them,” she said.
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